Traffic Stop Statistics Reveal Disturbing Trend

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by Shanita BigelowThe July 16 arrest of Harvard professor, Henry Louis Gates Jr., fueled a nationwide debate on race, more specifically, racial profiling.

President Barack Obamas beer summit brought Gates and Sergeant James Crowley, the arresting officer, together to discuss the highly publicized incident. Both left the summit generally appeased and with plans to meet again, according to CNN.

Beer summit aside, the very serious and sensitive issue of racial profiling has been on the radar and on the books of the Illinois State Legislature for more than six years.

The Illinois Traffic Stop Statistics Study Law or Racial Profiling Law, sponsored by State Representative Monique D. Davis and supported by then State Senator Obama, was recently extended until 2015.

Work on the bill was initiated in 2003 due to a multitude of complaints from all over the city that racial profiling was taking place as minorities were being stopped and searched and when nothing was found, they were summarily sent away, Davis said. These complaints in conjunction with claims from some that racial profiling was a myth of our imagination propelled Davis and her colleagues, who in a bipartisan effort passed the legislation, to prove the existence or non-existence of racially biased policing practices.

By law, Illinois police officers must record specific information during traffic stops. Along with the date, time and location of the stop, they must also record the name, address, gender and their subjective opinion of the race of the person stopped. The alleged violation leading to the stop, the year and make of the stopped vehicle and whether there was a search of the vehicle, driver or passenger(s) and if so, whether the search was conducted with consent, must also be recorded. Also required are the name and badge number of the officer.

Data analysis sponsored by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) has revealed a disturbing trend as outlined in the 2008 Illinois Traffic Stop Study (ITSS) conducted by UIC Center for Research in Law and Justice: In 2008, the statewide ratio was 1.13. That is, the percentage of minority drivers stopped in the state was 32.14 percent, but the estimated minority driving population in Illinois is 28.48 percent. This ratio indicates that a minority driver was roughly 13 percent more likely to be stopped than a Caucasian driver.

The results of these studies are reviewed annually. Due to the consistency of these results, former Governor Rod Blagojevich extended the study until July 2010 in 2005, but he failed to appoint a task force to determine what further action should be taken in places where racial profiling is prevalent, Davis stated.

The most recent extension, signed by Gov. Pat Quinn on August 25 comes at a time when the state is facing a lot of difficult choices. Police forces have substantially decreased. We need good police officers, Davis continued. Her office is urging Gov. Quinn to select a task force, so as to find the best remedies for this alarming trend.

This study has helped police departments across the state to recognize and fight racial profiling extending it until 2015 will keep this important work going and help ensure that everyone in Illinois is treated equally and fairly during traffic stops, a spokesman from Gov. Quinns office said.

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