Berkeley Limits Low-Level Traffic Stops in an Effort to Reduce Policing Disparities

April 27 2021

From the article: "...In February the city of Berkeley made legislative history when its officials unanimously voted to deprioritize traffic stops for “low-level” offenses, and instead encouraged officers to focus their efforts on dangerous driving violations and investigative stops. 

The move is part of a greater policing reform package that has been in the works for the past year and aims to address racial disparities in relation to the Berkeley Police Department’s operations. 

The package particularly relies on data compiled by the Center for Policing Equity (CPE) in 2018. In collaboration with the city, the CPE found that Black and Hispanic drivers and pedestrians were significantly more likely to be stopped by Berkeley police officers, yet only half as likely to actually be arrested..."

By Ozge Tergioglu

Continue reading the article on The Davis Vanguard.