Author Description

Racial profiling of motorists by law enforcement -- that is, using race as a key factor in deciding whether to make a traffic stop -- is an issue that has received increased attention in recent years. Numerous allegations of racial profiling of motorists have been made and several lawsuits have been won. This report provides info. on: the findings and methodologies that have been conducted on racial profiling of motorists; and federal, state, and local data available on motorist stops. The analyses indicates that African American motorists in particular, and minority motorists in general, were proportionately more likely than whites to be stopped on the roadways studied.