|  Acknowledgments
Introduction
Self-Assessment
 Definition
Traffic
Enforcement
Community
Outreach
Data
Collection
Resources
Legislation
and Case Law
Conclusion |
|
Bias-based
traffic law enforcement, commonly referred to as “racial profiling,”
may involve differential treatment based solely on any number of personal
attributes. This would, for example, include the stopping of motorists,
the detention of a person, and/or the searching of a vehicle based solely
on the individual’s race, ethnic origin, gender, age, or income
status.
In other words, there
is no legitimate cause to stop. Most law enforcement officers agree this
practice is unacceptable. Yet, some law enforcement officers engage in
this practice on a regular basis.
The issue of considering
race as a personal characteristic for a criminal offense that has been
committed is not in question. The use of race, ethnicity, gender, age,
or income status as a characteristic in general enforcement is illegal
and undeniably discriminatory. Bias-based traffic enforcement is inconsistent
with the most valued principles of policing. It is an indefensible police
tactic that lurks behind the guise of enforcing the law.
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