In a recent study released at the Pennsylvania State Police academy in Hershey, researchers found that the rates of vehicle stops, citations, and searches conducted by state troopers were comparable across different races and ethnicities. The $194,000 study revealed that troopers’ decisions during traffic stops were primarily based on legal factors rather than the race or ethnicity of the drivers.
While the study found no substantive differences in the initial reasons for traffic stops based on race or ethnicity, there was a slight increase in discretionary searches of Black drivers’ vehicles compared to white or Latino drivers when factoring in criminal histories. Notably, troopers do not ask for the race or ethnicity of drivers but base their perceptions on subjective observations.
The findings come after a federal civil rights complaint alleged targeting of Latino drivers for vehicle stops and immigration status checks by Pennsylvania State Police troopers, leading to a settlement that enacted new regulations to prevent such practices.
Pennsylvania State Police have taken steps to increase transparency through the expanded use of body cameras and implementing stricter protocols to ensure equal treatment of all individuals during traffic stops. Moreover, a new law passed by the Legislature mandates local police departments to collect and publish traffic stop data, effective at the end of next year.
The release of this data has prompted further scrutiny and calls for a comprehensive review of regional differences in traffic stop statistics. Similar studies in California, Massachusetts, and Missouri have shown varying levels of racial disparities in traffic stop outcomes, emphasizing the need for ongoing assessment and reforms in law enforcement practices.
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