Lawmakers aim to reduce police interactions, particularly to address racial disparities and public safety concerns.
Vennieth McCormick, a 60-year-old business owner from Baltimore, isn’t afraid of much—except being pulled over by police. While serving in the Army, jumping out of planes didn’t phase him. But facing a police officer during a routine traffic stop is another story.
McCormick recalls multiple stops throughout Maryland, the latest being in Baltimore County in August 2023. “I’ve never gotten a ticket or warning in any of those stops,” he said during a recent discussion on proposed traffic stop legislation. “I deal with it. There’s nothing I can do about it.” However, he believes lawmakers can do something about it, and that’s exactly what some Maryland legislators are hoping to accomplish.
Legislation Aims to Reduce Unnecessary Stops
Advocates for reform are backing a bill that would cut down on the number of violations that give police a reason to pull a driver over. The bill, expected to be reintroduced in the coming months, would downgrade certain “primary violations” to secondary offenses. This shift would give police fewer reasons to initiate a stop that may not be related to immediate public safety concerns.
State Senator Charles Sydnor (D-Baltimore County) is leading the charge for this change. He’s hoping the legislation will not only make traffic stops safer for both officers and the public but also reduce the racial disparities in traffic enforcement.
“Wouldn’t you want your police officers only engaged when there’s a real public safety need?” Sydnor said in an interview. He argues that reducing the reasons for stops will help protect both officers and civilians. The bill would make fewer traffic stops possible without compromising public safety.
But not everyone is on board. Carroll County Sheriff Jim DeWees, who heads the Maryland Sheriffs’ Association, disagrees with the idea. “It’s not a constitutional right to drive a vehicle,” DeWees said, emphasizing that driving on public roads is a privilege, not a right. He believes that stopping vehicles for infractions such as unregistered cars or broken lights ensures accountability, regardless of the driver’s race.
Racial Disparities in Traffic Stops
One of the main reasons advocates support this bill is the need to address the racial disparities in traffic stops. In 2023, Black drivers accounted for 43% of all traffic stops in Maryland, despite making up only 32% of the state’s population. By comparison, white drivers, who represent 57% of the population, made up 39% of all stops.
This data highlights a troubling trend: Black drivers are disproportionately stopped by police, even when controlling for population size. The new legislation seeks to lower the frequency of these non-safety-related stops, which are often where racial disparities are most noticeable.
A report from the Maryland Office of the Public Defender underscores this issue. By reducing non-safety stops, the bill aims to free up police resources for more critical issues such as dangerous driving and major safety concerns. It would also, advocates hope, lead to fewer racial disparities in how traffic laws are enforced.
What Violations Would Be Affected?
Currently, Maryland law categorizes violations into primary and secondary offenses. Primary violations, like driving an unregistered vehicle, allow officers to pull over drivers. Secondary offenses, such as driving with a broken tail light, can only result in a citation if the driver is already pulled over for another reason.
Under the proposed legislation, several common primary violations would be downgraded to secondary status. These include:
- Driving an unregistered vehicle or one with expired registration (three months or more)
- Driving without functioning head, brake, or tail lights
- Driving with broken or missing mirrors
- Excessive window tint
- Failure to illuminate a license plate
- Driving in a bus-only lane
- Excessive noise
- Failure to signal, due to equipment malfunction or otherwise
- Littering on roadways
Reducing the number of primary violations would significantly limit the reasons police have for stopping drivers, thus lowering the overall number of stops. While the details are still being worked out, this change could mean fewer routine stops that don’t contribute to immediate safety concerns.
The Pushback and Support
While some law enforcement officials are skeptical of the bill, others see it as a necessary step forward. Sheriff DeWees, representing the sheriffs’ association, expressed concern over the potential consequences of such a bill. He believes that enforcing violations, such as unregistered vehicles, is crucial for maintaining order on the roads.
However, the Maryland Office of the Public Defender is pushing back, arguing that traffic stops should prioritize safety and not be used as an excuse for arbitrary encounters. Natasha Dartigue, the state’s Public Defender, has argued that safer traffic stops would allow officers to focus their attention on high-priority issues, such as reckless driving and accidents. Additionally, the reduction in discretionary stops would likely lead to fewer racial profiling incidents, a point that advocates argue is critical for improving trust between police and communities of color.
A Step Toward Fairer Traffic Enforcement?
The ongoing discussion around this proposed legislation highlights a critical moment in Maryland’s approach to traffic enforcement. By targeting unnecessary stops, lawmakers are aiming to create a system that is safer for both police officers and the public. Advocates hope this will also help reduce the longstanding racial disparities seen in traffic stops across the state.
As the debate continues, one thing is clear: this bill has the potential to reshape how traffic stops are conducted in Maryland. The goal is to balance public safety with fairness, ensuring that law enforcement resources are focused where they are most needed.
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