Article

Reforming American Policing Practices: Traffic Stops  

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Abstract

This article will focus on traffic stops in policing, which often act as an initial encounter between citizens and law enforcement officers. To make a stop, police must be present and witness a traffic violation, such as speeding, passing, or a lack of vehicle safety features. Traffic stops begin with a traffic law violation but may result in more serious consequences, such as searches and arrests. In the criminal justice system, people of color are disproportionately subject to traffic stops by law enforcement, despite the lack of evidence that people of color break more traffic laws compared to their white counterparts. This article will focus on the explicit and implicit racial biases many police officers have when deciding who to stop. This leads to questions of police ethics and raises concerns of racial profiling in the legal system. This article will conclude by discussing potential reforms aimed at reducing racial bias in this type of police practice.

How to Cite:

Gulati, S., (2026) “Reforming American Policing Practices: Traffic Stops  ”, UMass Undergraduate Law Review 3(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.7275/uulrj.3886