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* Sun-Times…
Police asked to conduct searches of vehicles driven by black motorists nearly twice as often as those driven by whites in 2017, according to the report. Police asked to search cars driven by Latinos 1.4 times more often those driven by whites.
At the same time, white drivers were found with contraband about 1.3 times more often than black or Latino drivers. The report, titled “Racism in the Rear View Mirror,” was released Monday.
“The data shows that law enforcement officers throughout the state of Illinois continue to stop black and Latinx drivers at rates beyond their representation in the driving population and continue to perform searches of black and Latinx drivers at higher rates than white drivers,” the ACLU said. “In short, biased policing continues to be a problem in Illinois.”
The report examined data collected by the Illinois Department of Transportation between 2015 and 2017 from more than 900 law enforcement agencies statewide. Police made about 6.5 million traffic stops and performed more than 283,000 searches in that time.
In certain cities, such as Aurora and Champaign, black drivers were stopped at rates more than twice that of the population of black people who lived there, according to the report.
Go read the whole thing, plus there’s much more here.
* ACLU’s recommendations…
* Make permanent the Illinois Traffic and Pedestrian Stop Statistical Study Act
* Abolish consent searches during traffic stops
* Review and report data on police dogs
* Consistent statewide use of body cameras
* Investigate and report all outcomes of complaints against officers
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 9:39 am
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Rich, more of this please!
#bracism
Comment by CPS Eagle Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 9:42 am
We must stop brutalizing and terrorizing our black and brown citizens.
It’s unfair and traumatic, and it’s a waste of scarce resources that could be better used for more effective crime reduction strategies.
I’m glad we have the data to know a change in approach is needed.
Comment by Moe Berg Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 9:47 am
I guess this is just another reason why I have been donating to the ACLU for close to 50 years.
Comment by illini Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 9:50 am
There is also data showing that the vast majority of shootings in Chicago are by young black and Latino men, and they are also the majority of the victims of these shootings. In Chicago, the police send all available officers to neighborhoods plagued by these shootings.
I am not saying there isn’t racism at play here. The violence is real and the response has consequences.
Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 9:53 am
I could see those involved in the drug trade enlisting whites to be the couriers for this very reason, that they are less likely to be pulled over.
There are some good recommendations on that ACLU list.
Comment by The Dude Abides Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 9:57 am
The study certainly verifies 30 years or so of anecdotal evidence from friends here in the western burbs.
There’s a four-lane stretch of Thatcher Avenue along the forest preserve in River Forest that’s posted at 25 mph. No stops from Chicago Avenue to North Avenue.
I’d say the average speed is 45 mph. But the posted 25 mph is ample reasonable cause to pull over anyone you want. Of those I’ve seen pulled over through the years, I don’t remember even one white driver.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 10:03 am
One of the overlooked benefits of ending the Drug War is improved race relations.
Comment by y Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 10:03 am
47th Ward — I respect your posts 99% of the time but I think you’re missing the point on this. There’s absolutely 0 excuse for black drivers to be searched at a rate 2 times that of white drivers.
A small bump of searches of black and brown drivers could maybe, maaaaaaaybe be excused but these numbers are shameful. Police have to do better.
Comment by FDB Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 10:05 am
I doubt there is rampant racism among law enforcement. As stated by another, the police go to/stop those who commit the crimes. And on top of that, the ACLU is extremely biased against law enforcement.
Comment by Darien Dude Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 10:09 am
And every single one of these stops is a terror for Black people. If I sneeze, I could be dead.
Comment by Precinct Captain Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 10:09 am
Wordslinger - I’ve traveled that road probably twice a day since the 80s, I start at Bloomingdale, and I have to say that that stretch is probably the only place I obey the speed limit. Now, the 7900-7500 block of Grand are where I rarely see a white person being pulled over. Its sad.
Comment by Former State Employee 2 Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 10:10 am
I’m all for the ACLU’s recommendations, except for “Abolish consent searches during traffic stops”
They want to not allow cops to ask to search a car? We need cops to make better decisions, not stop them from making decisions at all.
Comment by Perrid Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 10:20 am
===Police have to do better.===
Agreed 100%. I think I was reacting more to the Tribune coverage of this study from yesterday which focused primarily on Chicago police stops. I live in a diverse neighborhood that is considered relatively safe. I never see police pulling anyone over. In fact, I rarely see police at all. A CPD beat rep told me most patrols are focused in high-violence prone areas. So it stand to reason, if more police are in these areas, more stops will occur there. That Chicago is also a segregated city accounts for some of these horrible disparities between white and nonwhite drivers who get stopped.
The statewide numbers make the ACLU’s case. The Tribune’s coverage of Chicago wasn’t as sharp in my opinion.
Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 10:20 am
Darien Dude, did you miss the “At the same time, white drivers were found with contraband about 1.3 times more often than black or Latino drivers” line? So the minorities are pulled over more often but are less likely to have contraband.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 10:29 am
Consent searches should be abolished. If the police cannot establish probable cause to search they need to move on. Same with the use of police dogs. If the police cannot establish probable cause on their own, the traffic stop should cease. Police dogs are problematic.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-watch/wp/2015/08/04/federal-appeals-court-drug-dog-thats-barely-more-accurate-than-a-coin-flip-is-good-enough/?utm_term=.3a98d7cd10ce
Comment by Kayak Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 10:44 am
=I doubt there is rampant racism among law enforcement=
A report showing that police officers pull over black drivers at a rate twice that of white drivers seems to suggest otherwise.
And it looks like you’re conflating a call for accountability with a bias against law enforcement.
Comment by LakeCo Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 10:52 am
= We must stop brutalizing and terrorizing our black and brown citizens. =
Or, we must start brutalizing and terrorizing our white citizens more.
Comment by I Miss Bentohs Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 10:55 am
If only there had been some sort of clue before this data release that DWB was real…
Comment by Anon324 Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 10:55 am
… the ACLU and Cap Fax are extremely biased against law enforcement
Fixed.
Comment by I Miss Bentohs Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 11:00 am
While it says a lot about the policing methods, the 1.3 percent doesn’t necessarily mean whites are more likely to have contraband. Maybe police just need more reason or visible evidence (swerving, throwing items out window) to pull over and search a white driver’s car. Still racist though. Also, is there any info regarding the severity of contraband found? E.g. guns vs marijuana
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 11:10 am
Agree with 47th Ward. In Chicago there are more police assigned to high crime districts. The more police driving around the greater chance of lousy drivers being seen. And anyone who does more than drive to church on Sunday can attest that lousy drivers exist. Unless a lot of cars have mechanical issues. I, for one, am amazed that how fast turn signals burn out in every make of car. That must be the explanation for all the changes of lane with no signal.
Comment by West Side the Best Side Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 11:20 am
===In Chicago===
This is about the entirety of Illinois. It’s not always about you.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 11:22 am
Blacks in Elgin have known for a long time that they have to drive within the speed limit and not commit any moving violations or else.
Comment by A 400lb. Guy on a bed Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 11:39 am
Rich - Agreeing with 47th Ward on the Tribune story about CPD stops. Don’t blame me for Trib coverage.
Comment by West Side the Best Side Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 11:46 am
I would be curious to know, not that it matters to the post, the demographic breakdown of the officers involved.
Comment by Blue Dog Dem Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 11:48 am
Wait, so racism isn’t over? Racism is not a liberal/Democratic ploy to divide Americans by playing identity politics?
I think it should be a top political priority to fight institutional racism—so much more important than a Mexican border wall/fence.
Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 12:18 pm
“The study certainly verifies 30 years or so of anecdotal evidence from friends here in the western burbs.”
I second this. It’s constant along Cermak in North Riverside. I have seen ONE white driver pulled over in a span of 15 years. No exaggeration.
Comment by Politix Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 12:45 pm
Blue Dog Dem -
While not available, like to see income data on the people pulled over. Here in Springfield, I see lots of whites pulled over in the poorer neighborhoods. Leland Grove, not so much.
Comment by Smitty Irving Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 2:44 pm
Smitty. Would also like to see breakdown of woman,man as well. Mrs. Blue drives like a greyhound. Never a looksie at her. Me on the other hand…..
Comment by Blue Dog Dem Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 4:19 pm
The two years of data discussed above was only collected because it is required by the Illinois Traffic and Pedestrian Stop Statistical Study Act.
We can quibble about the ACLU’s other recommendations, but the Act’s data collection requirements — currently scheduled to sunset on July 1 — should be permanent law in Illinois.
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 5:24 pm
==In certain cities, such as Aurora and Champaign, black drivers were stopped at rates more than twice that of the population of black people who lived there, according to the report.==
I’m still trying to figure out what this sentence is trying to say, but I’m failing.
Comment by OldIllini Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 8:01 pm
==I’m still trying to figure out what this sentence is trying to say, but I’m failing.==
It means that if African Americans compose 20% of the population, they account for over 40% of the traffic stops
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 8:42 pm