Philadelphia Is Banning "Low Level" Traffic Stops And It's About Time

This seems like a pretty good idea. Who the hell wants more traffic stops?

One of the most common ways Americans interact with police is via traffic stops, and while they often go smoothly, I wouldn't say that's an interaction that either side craves to have more of. Philadelphia is on its way to having less of these interactions, since their mayor, Jim Kenney, issued an executive order that would ban officers from pulling over cars for offenses known as "secondary violations." Stuff like having one brake light out, or an expired registration. These sorts of stops have a history of abuse, especially to minority drivers. Really, is anyone going to miss getting stopped by cops more?

It's not like the infractions will just go unpunished; if you're driving around with a broken taillight or missing registration stickers or something like that, cops may still catch you, only instead of pulling you over, they'll run your license plate, get your information, and mail you your ticket.

Easy! Who needs the hassle and potential danger of hanging out by the side of an active road just to get a ticket you don't really want anyway handed to you?

The executive order bans stopping a car for any of the following:

Comment(s)

Recommended