When I was 22, I was pulled over while driving home to be with my then 2 year old and partner.

I was physically pushed around, arrested, taken to the hospital for a urine test, and detained for the night while my car was searched and impounded.

At court, they tried to get me with a misdemeanor for failing to signal since no drugs or alcohol were in my system. I fought this for 2 years until a public defender watched the video and dropped it.

During those 2 years, I had a warrant for missing a court date that I didn’t know about. So when y’all see “outstanding warrant” in these hot takes, piss off. Warrants are given out like candy.

I was pulled over again with my kid this time. The cop grabbed my arm and whispered, “give me $75 and you can go. I don’t want your kid to think I’m an asshole.” Thankfully, @b_turnwell was with me. We went to the gas station and pulled out cash and I was free to go.

There was nothing I had done wrong. I was a young Black mother being racially profiled.

These traffic stops almost always end with death, incarceration, or leave us with a manufactured record.