Press Release: Racial Disparities in Traffic Stops Persist in Vermont
Recent research reveals that Black and Hispanic drivers in Vermont are still facing higher rates of traffic stops and searches compared to their white counterparts. This analysis, conducted by University of Vermont Economics Professor Stephanie Seguino, Cornell Professor Nancy Brooks, and Data Analyst Pat Autilio, is part of a broader study on racial disparities in traffic policing that began in 2017.
The latest findings cover data from 2020 to 2023 and examine the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on racial disparities in traffic enforcement. While there was a temporary reduction in such disparities during the pandemic, the recent data indicates that Black drivers were still 20% more likely to be arrested and 100% more likely to be searched in the 2022-23 period, despite improvements from earlier findings.
Hispanic drivers also saw a reduction in their arrest and search rates, yet they continue to be over-stopped, facing traffic stops at double their share of the driving population. The report noted that while the racial disparities in traffic policing have slightly improved, they are beginning to unravel as traffic stop numbers increase.
Notably, police searches of Black and Hispanic drivers yield lower contraband rates compared to white drivers, suggesting inherent biases in police searches. Etan Nasreddin-Longo from Vermont State Police acknowledged the discomfort these findings may cause but emphasized their necessity for informed discussions on racial disparities in policing.
Moreover, while Vermont’s traffic stop rate remains nearly 2.5 times higher than the national average of 52 stops per 1,000 residents, the authors advocate for more proactive legislative measures to address these ongoing disparities in law enforcement training.
The researchers hope their findings will inspire discussions that lead to meaningful changes in policing practices across Vermont.
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