Posted on Jul 23, 2022

Driving while Black continues to be a problem in Illinois. We know this because every law enforcement agency in the state is required by law to document and report data on traffic stops to the Illinois Department of Transportation (“IDOT”), which then analyzes and summarizes the data in an annual report. And what does it show? Across the state, Black drivers are stopped at rates far higher than their estimated local driving populations. The question is: What are law enforcement agencies doing to identify and remedy any racial disparities in their jurisdictions?

For many people, a traffic stop is much more than a mere interruption to a person’s day that can lead to hefty fines and fees. Especially for drivers of color, a traffic stop is a frightening, demeaning interaction with an armed officer and a significant power imbalance that far too often results in tragic outcomes. The fact that Black drivers are subjected to these stops at higher rates than white drivers is unacceptable. Experts tell us that even when a person safely drives off without receiving a citation, they can be left feeling targeted, harassed, and racially profiled, making them less likely to trust law enforcement or seek out their assistance in the future.

In 2003, State Senator Barack Obama championed a racial profiling law that required all Illinois law enforcement agencies to report their traffic stop data, including the race of the person stopped and the outcome of the stop. Over the years, as the data shed light on the disproportionate targeting of people of color for traffic stops, state lawmakers expanded the Traffic Stop Statistical Study Act (“the Study Act”) to include data on police searches of drivers based on “consent,” dog sniff searches, and pedestrian stops. The Study Act was originally set to expire in 2007 and was extended every few years until finally becoming permanent in 2019.

Original article: https://www.aclu-il.org/en/news/illinois-traffic-stops-still-disproportionately-targets-black-drivers