Do you think we must rethink how we enforce traffic laws in cities and suburbs? Do traffic stops accomplish their task of deterring unsafe driving?
Read the article in New York Times that highlights how police chiefs, prosecutors and lawmakers are rethinking the value, and the harm, of minor traffic stops.
Do you believe banning traffic stops like in Philadephia, Los Angeles, Seattle, etc, will bring positive changes to the justice system and the affected communities? Write your thoughts on this question.
Here is why I want you to do it: This assignment will help you to understand how the enforcement of traffic laws affects communities, and how critical criminologists may interpret this change in enforcement.
Here is how to do it: You will write an OpenLab post with your response to the question above.
Deadline: December 13th, 11:59 pm
Notes: You may edit and resubmit this assignment and you may email it to me if you are unsure that you are meeting the requirements. Your classmates may comment on your post once it is here.
[…] Short Assignment #4: The Ban of Minor Vehicular Stops […]
[…] Short Assignment #4: The Ban of Minor Vehicular Stops […]
Traffic stops do not accomplish their task from deterring unsafe driving because there are officers who do enforce their own power above the law by racially profiling or the use of force certain individuals when it comes to a traffic stop. Additionally causing the traffic law officer and a pedestrian to be involved in an altercation because of what the official assumes from the driver, wether it can be speeding or running pass a red light officers may assume that they are hiding something or doing something illegal trying to avoid the law enforcement in which can cause danger to the suspect being stopped and the people around the community knowing they are being target for what they assume to be as them doing something wrongfully.
My claim goes back to the article where they state “A New York Times investigation last fall revealed that in the previous five years police officers pulling over cars had killed more than 400 motorists who were neither wielding a gun or knife nor under pursuit for a violent crime — a rate of more than one a week. Police culture and court precedents significantly overstated the danger to officers, encouraging aggression in the name of self-defense and impunity from prosecutors and juries, the investigation found.”
This shows how, instead of doing what is expected of them and issuing them a fine or a caution, they go over and beyond whether the suspects stopped are equipped or not, killing additional people while being pulled allegedly breaking the traffic rules!
This is such an argument and a conversation to unpack. Banning traffic bans are either helpful or harmful. Not to mention Los Angeles , Pennsylvania & and seattle are all major Cities where traffic stops are common and known to not end so well. While traffic stops are proven to be effective they are also proven not as effective. They are proven to help keep drunk or under the influence drivers from causing a harm to themselves and others. Though many of the traffic stops we have seen in the media have been death upon many drivers. From Anthony wright to Delane Gordan Both men have been profiled and harmed due to suspicious or “reasonable suspicion” as we love to put it.
While unpacking what reasonable suspicion is I have more reason to believe it is more about the laws then it is the actual traffic stop. Police officials are trained professionals but also trained to help protect themselves in any given situation. With that being said any reasonable assumption of a deadly weapon can cause a threat or loss of life to an innocent driver. In the article given police officers have killed over 400 motorcyclists that were not processing any fire arm or harmful weapon. These deaths are all due to assumption.
Not to mention when getting pulled over what we see in the media automatically runs rapid in our minds. It’s extremely hard to stay calm in situations where we dont see a living outcome from. Many of the times we expect authorities to prioritize the well being of our citizens yet they fail to protect us. We assume that they know what they’re doing yet under assumptions they are practically allowed to pull out their fire arm and potentially kill an innocent driver. I believe more evaluation shall be administered. A ban will harm and let more crimes slide but there should be mor supervision on these traffic stops.