The fifth annual report on Missouri traffic stops has been sent to the Governor. And, a racial disparity in stops and searches is still evident. A 2000 law on racial profiling requires law enforcement agencies to provide the State with information on traffic stops. Attorney General Jay Nixon says 603 agencies submitted information, detailing more than 1.3-Million stops. The data show Blacks were stopped at a rate 34 percent higher than expected based solely on their proportion of the driving-age population. Nixon says the information opens the door to discussion on allegations of racial profiling. Discrepancies aside, Nixon says indications are law enforcement agencies are doing good work. 70 agencies have not provided the data. Governor Matt Blunt will have the option of withholding funding from those agencies.
Related web sites:
2004 Report on Traffic Stops
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