Philadelphia bans police from stopping drivers for low-level traffic violations

Philadelphia, November 1 (RHC)-- The U.S. city of Philadelphia has become the first major city to ban police from stopping cars for low-level traffic violations in an effort to reduce dangerous interactions between racist police officers and motorists of color. 

Police data from 2018 and 2019 showed Black drivers represent 72% of traffic stops in Philadelphia, even though Black residents only make up 42% of the city’s population.

A recent study by The New York Times found police officers across the U.S. have killed over 400 drivers or passengers who were not armed with a deadly weapon in the past five years.  Only five of those officers have been convicted of crimes.