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I drove behind yet another Tennessee officer going 10+ miles over the speed limit. Considering I have traffic court tomorrow for unknowingly speeding in a speed trap, here's a long thread I meant to create earlier about criminal justice reform and traffic stops:
If speeding is so serious a crime, especially in a town like mine where cops dedicate lots of time and resources on enforcement, then officers need to stop speeding in non-emergency situations.
You might think a cop shirking such a small rule is no big deal, but it actually exposes great hypocrisy in the criminal justice system. If the roles were reversed and I sped in front of that cop, I would be pulled over and staring down yet another $200 ticket.
(And because this town is so small, I'd HAVE to go to court again and pay court fees). I'm lucky enough that I can afford to pay another $200 ticket. Many Americans are not.
Excessive ticketing, fees, and fines for minor violations are just one way we criminalize poverty in America. https://theappeal.org/fines-and-fees-explained-bf4e05d188bf/
A few months ago, I wrote about Reunca Lewis. At the time, Lewis had over 30 open warrants. Most were for traffic violations. In several instances, a cop would cite her multiple times in one stop. For example, if there were several minors in the vehicle and none of them were
wearing seatbelts, the cop would cite Lewis for each minor rather than give her one overall ticket. Because of this aggressive ticketing, Lewis' license was suspended. But because she lives in the South, she still very much needs use of her vehicle. https://reason.com/2020/04/30/in-the-middle-of-a-pandemic-this-alabama-town-is-still-throwing-people-in-jail-for-unpaid-traffic-tickets/
Like Lewis, those who are most affected by aggressive enforcement typically lack the resources to pay excessive fines AND need to drive to make money to pay those fines. https://reason.com/2018/07/03/federal-judge-rules-suspending-poor-peop/
Traffic tickets are nothing more than a revenue generator that doesn't actually reduce crime or promote motor safety. Minorities are more likely to be taken advantage of over nothing.
1. http://rightoncrime.com/2019/01/lets-reconsider-traffic-enforcement/
2. In Nashville https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2018/11/19/nashville-police-traffic-stops-race-black-drivers-policing-project-report/2054042002/
3. Studies showing the reduction of racial discrepancies
at night (when you can't easily ID a driver) https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/opinions/systemic-racism-police-evidence-criminal-justice-system/#policing
2. In Nashville https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2018/11/19/nashville-police-traffic-stops-race-black-drivers-policing-project-report/2054042002/
3. Studies showing the reduction of racial discrepancies
at night (when you can't easily ID a driver) https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/opinions/systemic-racism-police-evidence-criminal-justice-system/#policing
Traffic stops give cops room to abuse motorists' 4th Amendment. In Michigan, cops used traffic stops to circumvent state law, conduct warrantless asset forfeiture, and pocket the money they stole. https://reason.com/2019/12/30/missouri-cops-used-federal-loophole-to-seize-2-6-million-from-drivers-who-they-never-charged-with-crimes/
Stop-and-frisk. https://reason.com/2017/02/22/aclu-sues-milwaukee-over-stop-and-frisk/
Abuses ending in death.
https://reason.com/2020/06/19/armed-agents-of-the-state-shouldnt-be-enforcing-traffic-laws/
Abuses ending in death.
https://reason.com/2020/06/19/armed-agents-of-the-state-shouldnt-be-enforcing-traffic-laws/
Traffic stops can also endanger cops, or at least make them think their lives are being threatened. https://reason.com/2019/08/01/an-80-fine-for-a-busted-taillight-ends-with-a-woman-being-tased/
It's okay to rethink what behaviors should and should not be heavily enforced.
As law professor Christopher Kutz is quoted here on the topic of traffic stops and contraband, "The rare instances when police find evidence of a crime, Kutz [said], 'don't justify the enormous social costs of widespread police interventions.'" https://reason.com/2017/07/20/curbing-traffic-stops-would-save-lives/
