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Disparity and Racial Profiling in Traffic Enforcement

University of Missouri–Kansas City novakk{at}umkc.edu

Although prior research on racial profiling has consistently reported that minorities are overrepresented among traffic stops compared with the population, published research has been exclusively conducted in either large police departments or state highway patrols. Using research from a suburban police department, this study finds that although the police stop a disproportionate number of minorities, the relationship between race and the decision to stop is very weak. Multivariate models indicate minorities stopped by the police are more likely to be stopped at night and to reside outside the city. Minorities are significantly less likely to receive formal sanction than majorities, suggesting officers are using traffic violations for pretextual stops.

Key Words: racial profiling • police • traffic enforcement

Police Quarterly, Vol. 7, No. 1, 65-96 (2004)
DOI: 10.1177/1098611102250359


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