Do You Feel Lucky, Punk?

I noticed on the subway this AM a sign that basically said that assaulting a subway employee is a felony. It added that it's punishable by up to seven years in prison.

Now, I understand the first part, reminding people that assault is a crime. I tend to forget that.

But why do they tell us the possible sentence? Are they letting us do the math in our heads? Perhaps trying to come up with some risk/reward analysis?

I don't think it would be worth it, but I gotta tell ya, sometimes, when the train is sitting there for fifteen minutes in the summer with no a/c and no announcements, seven years seems like a pretty good deal.

Rock On,

Aitch