Traffic stops conducted by the Chicago Police Department have more than doubled in the past nine years, leading some advocates to label this surge as a form of “new stop-and-frisk,” according to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). While the controversial stop-and-frisk practice has seen a decline following a 2015 reform agreement between the ACLU and the Chicago Police, traffic stops have sharply increased, rising from fewer than 200,000 in 2016 to over 570,000 in 2023.

Data reveals that Black drivers are disproportionately stopped by police in Chicago, echoing longstanding concerns about racial bias in law enforcement. Recent research examined the racial composition of drivers across various streets in the city, comparing this data to the demographics of those ticketed by speed cameras and those pulled over by police officers.

The findings indicate that when speed cameras are used for enforcement, the distribution of tickets issued aligns closely with the racial composition of the drivers on the roads. In contrast, police stops reflect a stark disparity; for instance, on streets where half the drivers are Black, these drivers receive about 54% of automated camera citations but constitute approximately 70% of police stops. Conversely, in areas where half the drivers are white, those individuals account for around half of automated citations while being stopped by police less than 20% of the time.

This pattern supports the notion of “driving while Black” as a significant issue in traffic enforcement, illustrating systemic racial bias that has persisted over decades. The civil rights movement of the 1960s revealed similar patterns, and high-profile incidents, such as the beating of Rodney King in 1991 and the recent police killings of Black drivers like Daunte Wright and Tyre Nichols, underscore the potentially lethal consequences of routine traffic stops.

Racial biases can lead to dangerous situations, especially when police officers are involved. While many police departments have implemented programs aimed at addressing implicit bias, evidence suggests that these measures have not significantly altered the demographics of those being stopped or arrested. To address the inequities in traffic enforcement, more substantial reforms may be necessary.

Proposed legislation in Illinois seeks to prevent traffic stops based solely on minor violations such as improper vehicle registration or seat belt infractions. In a similar vein, Berkeley, California, is exploring the idea of utilizing trained civilians for traffic enforcement, a model akin to existing parking enforcement systems that employ unarmed personnel.

The rationale behind traffic stops often centers on safety, a crucial consideration given that an average of 44 pedestrians, seven bicyclists, and 78 vehicle passengers were killed in crashes annually in Chicago from 2013 to 2022. Advocates suggest that increasing reliance on automated traffic enforcement could improve road safety while reducing police-driver interactions that often lead to bias and escalation.

Automated systems are capable of detecting severe moving violations, such as speeding and running red lights, without necessitating immediate police involvement. Research indicates that where cameras have been deployed, there has been a notable reduction in fatal and serious injury crashes. In 2023, over half of the police stops in Chicago were related to license plates, registrations, or equipment issues—non-moving violations that could be managed through automated systems.

As highlighted by the research, automated enforcement systems operate without racial bias and do not carry the risks associated with human interactions. Experts from various academic institutions have contributed to this study, emphasizing the urgent need for reform in traffic enforcement practices to foster equity and enhance public safety.