Summary

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Sofia D. Avila

12/16/22

I do believe we must rethink how we enforce traffic laws in cities and suburbs because they do not accomplish their task of deterring unsafe driving. Instead, they reveal more racial profiling and decrease the sense of trust and safety communities feel towards officers. The enforcement of traffic laws specifically minor traffic stops ineffectively decreases unsafe driving and instead has increased the fatalities involved in these interactions. The increased fatalities from traffic stops result in a decrease in trust and safety which only fuels the number of fatalities as individuals will feel at risk when stopped. Individuals are more likely to become paranoid or aggressive, which can go deeper into racial disparities.

“the risk of escalation created by disproportionately stopping Black drivers — exacerbated by pre-existing tensions between the police and Black residents — was a greater threat to public safety than the traffic violations.” – Cities Try to Turn the Tide on Police Traffic Stops, The New York Times.

This same article, states how some police unions and officers argue that “pulling over cars to search them is an essential weapon against serious crime”. This statement is contradicting itself, the minor traffic stop due to a vehicle’s broken tail lights, expired registrations, or window tints should not suggest officers be able to use probable cause in searching a vehicle. This is the stem of racial disparity, distrust, and life-threatening interactions.

Banning traffic stops in Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Seattle, etc, is in a way controversial if we are thinking about all traffic stops. I believe that in order to bring positive changes to the justice system and affected communities we would need to reform traffic stop protocols. Focusing more on individuals who are speeding, recklessly driving, and other more dangerous infractions would primarily deter unsafe driving. While stopping vehicles for minor infractions should not be enforced as heavily, officers should also be limited as to when to enforce probable cause that would lead them to search a vehicle. Cities and schools should also focus on educating individuals about their rights as a way to feel more secure when presented with these situations. Officers should also learn how to properly de-escalate situations in order to solidify trust and safety among communities.