According to recent data published by the New York Civil Liberties Union, Black and Latinx drivers are more likely to be stopped, searched, and arrested by NYPD officers during traffic stops.
According to their statement, the NYPD tends to stop drivers more frequently in particular neighborhoods.
After suing the NYPD for access to their traffic stop records, the NYCLU obtained data showing that over 1 million traffic stops were made by the NYPD between January 2022 and June 2023. Black and Latinx drivers made up 32% and 29% of these stops, respectively, which is a combined representation of 22% of the driving population. The data also reveals that almost 90% of those stopped were either Black or Latinx.
The highest number of stops were made in Brooklyn, followed by Queens, Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island. Drivers under the age of 35 accounted for almost half of all stops made.
According to Ify Chikezie, a staff attorney at the New York Civil Liberties Union, police officers have been given unrestricted authority when it comes to making traffic stops.
Chikezie, speaking to News 12 over Zoom, stated that the discretionary powers provided to law enforcement officials are being used in ways that are detrimental to Black and brown communities. She further added that frequent encounters with the police can have a devastating impact on individuals and communities. Unfortunately, there are numerous examples where Black and brown individuals have been killed by the police for trivial reasons such as driving or sitting in a car while being Black. Despite several attempts by News 12 to reach out to the NYPD for comment, they did not receive a reply. In the past, the NYPD has emphasized that their work is carried out without any consideration of race or ethnicity. Additionally, they have clarified that officers are not required to make a specific number of stops.
