New Study Shows Racial Profiling in San Diego Traffic Stops

Posted in General FAQ'S on January 31, 2017

A recent study conducted by the San Diego State University School of Public Affairs has revealed that black and Hispanic drivers in San Diego are more likely to be searched and extensively questioned during a traffic stop. The likelihood of a black, Hispanic or white driver being pulled over in general was roughly equal.

SDSU researchers analyzed approximately 260,000 records from traffic stops made between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2015. They examined the demographics of drivers as well as the officers making the stops, and whether a citations was actually issued or if contraband was found.

The methods by which the research was conducted is what makes the report so trustworthy; SDSU was upfront about missing data (19 percent of traffic stop records were missing at least one piece of information), and they used the “veil of darkness” technique, which basically says that a person’s race is much more difficult to see at night.

Racial Profiling By Police

This topic has been of high importance to millions of Americans in recent years. Many other studies have been conducted regarding this very issue, and conclusions have varied slightly. The SDSU study suggests that the stop itself happens at a roughly equal clip, but it’s what happens after the stop that differences become apparent. This has led to a decrease in trust from minority populations towards law enforcement.

Increased media coverage of all sorts of crime has distorted perceptions on reality. Studies do show that frequent exposure to news reports leads to a belief that racial profiling amongst police officers is commonplace. With the exception of a few cities across the country, the crime rate has fallen in the past ten years. However, concerns of racial profiling have been on the rise. As implicit and subconscious as they may be, the data shows that the concerns have merit.

San Diego Police Report

Perhaps one of the most concerning issues of the SDSU report is that those who were black were 53 percent more likely to be searched and 83 percent more likely to be questioned; however, they were 44 percent less likely to actually be carrying any contraband. Hispanic drivers experienced similar profiling, although the statistics for them in each category were slightly lower (Hispanics were only 37 percent more likely to be questioned).

The report also examined what actually happens after the stop is completed, such as whether a citation was issued or an arrest was made. For citations, the numbers were negligible. Black drivers were about seven percent less likely to receive a citation, and Hispanic drivers about 1.7 percent more likely, than white drivers. In terms of arrest rates, the data is actually very inconsistent with other similar studies.

As previously mentioned, the “veil of darkness technique” was used because it is much more difficult to tell a person’s race at night, at least until the officer has approached the vehicle after it has stopped. It indicated that a black person was 19.6 percent more likely to be stopped during daylight hours than a white person. The study cross-referenced this with geographical data, and found that black drivers were actually 20.7 percent less likely to be pulled over during the day compared to the night time.

If you feel you have been erroneously arrested or otherwise mistreated by law enforcement because of the color of your skin, contact the Law Offices of Graham Donath. Your initial consultation is free, and our experienced Riverside defense attorney will fight on your behalf for fair representation.