Samuel Case, FISM News
On Monday, Philadelphia became the first major U.S. city to ban police from pulling over drivers for minor traffic violations, and will only allow police to stop vehicles for so called “primary violations.”
The law was enacted in an attempt to ease tension between the police and communities of color following last year’s racial unrest and rioting in cities across the country, including Philadelphia.
The legislation was signed by Mayor Jim Kenney, after being approved by the City Council 14-2 two weeks earlier. The council also passed a bill 15-1 that creates a public database for traffic stops that is to be updated monthly.
“By removing the traffic stops that promote discrimination rather than public safety, City Council has made our streets safer and more equitable,” Council Member Isaiah Thomas, who introduced the law said.
The Philadelphia Police Department will now have 120 days to train its police officers under the new guidelines. The minor violations that no longer warrant a police stop include offenses such as broken tail lights, unsecured license plates, and improperly displayed registration.
The new law also enjoys public support from the police department, which released a statement in favor of the change.
We believe this is a fair and balanced approach to addressing racial disparity without compromising public safety. This modified enforcement model for car stops furthers the Department’s priority of addressing the issue of racial disparity in the Department’s investigative stops and complements the Department’s efforts to address these same issues in pedestrian stops.