ACLU Nationwide

Police stops for speeding or to enforce seat belt requirements, as well as many other police stops, are really an unconstitutional way to try and make our roadways safer. They also fail at their stated goal…I would argue highways are safer due to vehicle design more than anything else. Certainly not due to driver skill enhancement. But I digress…

Because of the subjective nature of enforcement, profiling is one nasty byproduct, because bottom line: The cops can basically pull anyone over any time they want. If a cop follows anyone long enough, sooner or later they will do something that could get them a ticket…and the cops get a “free peek” into their vehicle, which amounts to an illegal search. Minorities are many times more likely to be stopped for traffic violations…as people who are exhibiting “suspicious behavior” I’m sure. You know…like being black. Or Hispanic. Or Arab.

So, as a result, it’s no accident that more minorities end up in jail resultant to their traffic stops. And of course, it’s not just Florida. https://www.aclu.org/blog/speak-freely/new-evidence-racial-profiling-florida-roadways A Black person in Florida is almost two times as likely to be stopped and cited for seatbelt violations than a white person.

from WordPress https://jamiegraymusic.wordpress.com/2016/01/28/aclu-nationwide/