The email below was forwarded to us by the Treatment Not Jail Coalition. The email was sent to ENJAN to ask for our support for a proposed New York State bill (
S7111A) which limits stops of drivers, bicyclists, and/or pedestrians for "low-level, non-safety traffic stops."
Historical data clearly shows that people of color are stopped for these low level offenses much more frequently than whites. The bill also requires police officers to inform individuals stopped that they have a right to refuse a search unless there is a warrant signed by a judge, and requires more transparent reporting of all stops. A draft of the bill is attached, along with a bill summary, a list of similar bills passed across the US, and a report by the Thurgood Marshall Institute, titled "Safe Roads."
If you are interested in learning more about this bill, please consider attending the Zoom Meeting described in the email, which will be held from 4:00 to 5:00 pm on Wednesday, December 18th. to register, please send an email to Jill Paperno from Empire Justice at jpaperno@empirejustice.org.