Traffic Stop Data Analysis

Why Traffic Stops?

TRAFFIC STOPS ARE the most common interactions most people have with law enforcement. Because stops interfere with individual liberty, police need proper legal grounds to conduct them.

As part of the comprehensive settlement agreement between the SCPD and the DOJ in 2014, the following terms were agreed upon in an effort to assess and correct any racial bias in traffic stops:

• Implement DOJ approved Traffic Stop Data Collection

• Post to department’s website

• Review accuracy of data on annual basis

This was motivated by the September 13, 2011 Technical Assistance Letter to Suffolk County. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) recommended that SCPD review research conducted by RAND Corp. in the administration of a Collaborative Agreement between DOJ and the City of Cincinnati, OH resulting from a pattern and practice investigation of alleged biased policing – particularly in the area of traffic stops.
For more information on the RAND research and its influence on our collective understanding of identifying inequity in traffic stops, click here

For an in-depth examination of SCPD’s intentional yet surreptitious alteration of its raw traffic stop data by the addition of more than 112,000 deliberately generated duplicate traffic stop records, click here
For an in-depth examination of SCPD’s protracted traffic stop data recording / reporting compliance timeline, click here

The John F. Finn Institute for Public Safety, Inc. Traffic Stops by Suffolk County Police (September 2020) - released October 2020

• Special Report: Suffolk County Police Department Traffic Stops – Apr. 2022

Principal findings of analysis of SCPD overall traffic enforcement strategy in general and 2020 traffic stop data in particular

• SCPD engages in traffic enforcement focused on recovering contraband - a high-volume low-yield enterprise that predominantly targets young males of color in an ill-advised continuation of the discredited war on drugs and its corollary war on crime. Significant drug busts are rare.

• SCPD’s traffic enforcement of minorities is focused on recovering contraband, particularly drugs.  Blacks’ and Latinos’ are disproportionately targeted for investigatory stops putting them at a distinct disadvantage before their vehicle ever comes to a stop.  

• SCPD disproportionately stops vehicles with minority passengers and subjects those passengers to aggressive enforcement actions.  Community survey responses and pleadings in civil actions indicate that SCPD deliberately targets minority passengers and improperly demands that those who have committed no offense produce identification in order to check them for warrants.

• The overwhelming majority of Suffolk County’s middle-class whites are largely exempted from the interdiction strategy.

• Principal findings of analysis of SCPD overall traffic enforcement strategy in general and 2020 traffic stop data in particular

• SCPD engages in traffic enforcement focused on recovering contraband - a high-volume low-yield enterprise that predominantly targets young males of color in an ill-advised continuation of the discredited war on drugs and its corollary war on crime. Significant drug busts are rare.

• SCPD’s traffic enforcement of minorities is focused on recovering contraband, particularly drugs. Blacks’ and Latinos’ are disproportionately targeted for investigatory stops putting them at a distinct disadvantage before their vehicle ever comes to a stop.

• SCPD disproportionately stops vehicles with minority passengers and subjects those passengers to aggressive enforcement actions. Community survey responses and pleadings in civil actions indicate that SCPD deliberately targets minority passengers and improperly demands that those who have committed no offense produce identification in order to check them for warrants.

• The overwhelming majority of Suffolk County’s middle-class whites are largely exempted from the interdiction strategy.

• Based on population, Blacks were 3.7 times as likely as whites to be stopped; Latinos were 1.8 times as likely as their white counterparts to be stopped.

• Once stopped, Blacks’ vehicles were searched at 4.6 times the rate of whites’ but found to contain contraband 9% less frequently. Blacks were personally searched more than 4 times as frequently as whites yet found to possess contraband 18% les frequently. Blacks were frisked at more than 6 times the rate of whites yet found in possession of weapons 30% less often than whites. Blacks were removed from their vehicles at 3.8 times the rate of whites, placed in the back of police cars 3.4 times more often, restrained at 3.3 times the rate of whites, subjected to the use of force at 10 times the rate of whites and arrested at 2.5 times the rate of whites.

• Latinos were searched 77% more frequently than whites, removed from their vehicles 67% more frequently than whites, restrained 53% more frequently than whites, frisked at 1.5 times the rate of whites yet found to possess weapons 58% less frequently than whites, and arrested 43% more frequently than whites.

• Disparities in warrantless search rates are not justified by contraband recovery (“hit”) rates.

• By way of comparison, the U.S. Department of Justice’s investigation of the Ferguson, MO police department found that Black drivers were searched at 2 times the rate of whites and found to be in possession of contraband 26% less frequently. DOJ concluded that those corresponding disparities were credible indication that Ferguson’s “officers are impermissibly considering race as a factor when determining whether to search.”

• The disparities in SCPD’s discretionary enforcement actions rival and exceed the threshold DOJ established of the impermissible consideration of race (bias) by Ferguson, MO. Police.

• Racial disparities in SCPD’s stop odds ratios and search rates are greater than what Dr. Baumgartner described as a “double whammy”.

• Racial and ethnic disparities in discretionary enforcement stop decisions and outcomes are increasing over time, in spite of bias training, and have surpassed the level that County Executive Bellone deemed “unacceptable”.

• SCPD’s policing strategy is marked by racial/ethnic disparities in search rates and contraband recovery (“hit”) rates, in the use of non-lethal force, and in the severity of alternative outcomes. Young male Blacks and Latinos are forcibly removed from their vehicles, restrained, placed in the back of police cars, frisked and searched at alarmingly high rates.

Additional Findings

• The majority of the targeted aggressive activities occur in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd precincts where the majority of stops are investigatory.

• 1st, 2nd and 3rd precinct vehicle, person and passenger search rates and the rates at which passengers are forcibly removed from vehicles are intolerable.

• Latinos had the lowest verbal warning rate of all cohorts and were subjected to long duration stops at the highest rate of all cohorts.

• Search rate disparities are unsupported by HHS drug usage data, NYS DOH drug overdose and opioid burden data, or contraband hit rates – particularly in probable cause – drug searches of vehicles and probable cause searches of persons, the leading search reasons.

• Stop Sign violation stops: Blacks are 497% more likely than whites to be searched, 878% more likely to be frisked, 397% more likely to be restrained, and 290% more likely to be arrested.

• Equipment Violation stops: Blacks are 223% more likely than whites to be searched, 290% more likely to be frisked, 172% more likely to be restrained, and 157% more likely to be arrested.

The Harsh Disparities in the Daily Lived Experience

• During a “routine” traffic stop by SCPD, a 22-year-old Black male in the Town of Huntington is more likely than his white counterpart: to be removed from his vehicle (295%); to be frisked (227%); to be physically restrained (432%); to be searched (316%) and to be arrested (264%)

• As a passenger, a 20-year-old black male in Babylon is more likely than a 50-year-old White female in Smithtown: to be searched (374%); to be removed from the vehicle (240%); and to be restrained (88%)

The strategy is a failure

As a means of drug interdiction: SCPD expends valuable limited resources targeting minorities for marihuana arrests in western precincts while the opioid crisis is concentrated in Brookhaven and eastern precincts and whites’ opioid overdose fatality rates are significantly higher than minority rates.

As a means of promoting traffic safety: Suffolk has the worst traffic safety in NY; it leads NY in motor vehicle crashes and related fatalities.

Adverse public health implications: Public health research finds that physiological responses to such encounters, by those who experience them and community members who witness or learn of them, cause cumulative adverse health outcomes that exacerbate co-morbidities and literally shorten lives.

To view that data behind the summaries, click on the links below:

March 23, 2022 presentation to SCPD Commissioner Harrison

Appendix to March 23, 2022 presentation to SCPD Commissioner Harrison

To view the cover letter to SCPD Commissioner Harrison, click on the link below:
March 15, 2022 cover letter to SCPD Commissioner Harrison

Overview of SCPD Traffic Stop Data Findings:

UJPLI has been monitoring this data and engaging in comprehensive analysis using state of the art methodologies to uncover an accurate assessment of the degree of bias in Suffolk County Traffic Stops.  Newsday researchers have also been undertaking this initiative. Newsday and UJPLI findings that significant inequality exists when it comes to traffic stops are robust.  For example these are some highlights from the Oct. 20, 2020 Newsday article entitled:  Suffolk Police Stopped, Searched Minority Drivers at Higher Rates:

Newsday analyzed SCPD raw traffic stop data from the third quarter 2018 to the second quarter 2020.

Newsday’s findings are consistent with UJPLI research findings.  For example we find:

UJPLI continues to monitor trends in traffic stops.  Our findings will be published periodically in:

• Quarterly Reports

• Annual Reports

• Special Topical Reports

Quarterly Report: Quarter 3 2020, Suffolk County Police Department Traffic Stops – Sep. 2021

This report is a period vs. period analysis that compares traffic stop activity in the 3rd quarter 2020 to the activity in the 3rd quarter 2019.

Major Takeaways

• Disparities in stop decisions:

  • The 3rd quarter 2020 had fewer traffic stops than did the 3rd quarter 2019, likely due to COVID-19 pandemic precautions.

  • The odds of being stopped declined slightly for Whites and Asians, was virtually unchanged for Hispanics and increased slightly for Blacks. The net effect is that Blacks and Hispanics continue to be stopped at significantly higher rates than other cohorts.

  • The most significant development in the 3rd quarter of 2020 was the shift in the discretionary enforcement Asians. Prior to Q3 2020, discretionary enforcement decisions (stop reasons) involving Asians and Whites were similar. That changed in Q3 2020.  

    • Prior to Q3 2020, no Asians were stopped for being on a lookout list (BOLO), being suspected of a crime or seat belt violations – stop reasons that are common for Blacks and Hispanics.  That changed in Q3 2020.  Notably, the number of Asians stopped for being on a look-out list exceeded the number of Blacks and Hispanics.

    • Stops of Asians for Stop Sign violations and Equipment Violations – stop reasons that are also common for Blacks and Hispanics, more than doubled in the period. 

• Disparities in stop outcomes:

  • The overall rate at which occupants were removed from their vehicles increased in the period.  Declines in the rates for Hispanics and Whites were more than offset by a significant increase for Blacks and a slight increase for Asians. 12.4% of Blacks who are stopped are removed from their vehicles while 1.5% of Asians, 5.7% of Hispanics and 3.5% of Whites are removed from their vehicles when stopped. 

  • The rate of tickets issued declined slightly.  Hispanics and Asians continue to be ticketed at the highest rates of all cohorts.

  • The rate of stops adjudicated by verbal warnings increased slightly. The most significant increase was for Blacks.  

  • The overall rate of vehicle searches increased slightly.   Blacks were searched at the highest rates (more than twice the rate of Whites).  Asians were searched at more than three times the rate they were searched in the previous quarter.

  • The rate of non-productive searches increased significantly over the 2019 rate led by the increase in non-productive searches of Blacks.  Notably, 100% of searches of Asians in Q2 were productive, only 60% were productive in Q3. 

• While discretionary enforcement actions involving Asians mirrored those of Whites from Q1 2014 to Q2 2020, that transitioned to mirror those of Blacks and Hispanics in Q3 2020.  Notably, this transition coincided with the increase in the incidence of prominent Asian hate crimes.  

Quarterly Report: Quarter 2 2020, Suffolk County Police Department Traffic Stops - Aug. 2021

This report is a period vs. period analysis that compares traffic stop activity in the 2nd quarter 2020 to the activity in the 2nd quarter 2019.

Major Takeaways

• Disparities in stop decisions:

  • The 1st quarter 2020 had significantly fewer traffic stops than did the 1st quarter 2019, likely due to COVID-19 pandemic precautions.

  • Blacks and Hispanics remained significantly more likely to be stopped than Whites and Asians

  • Blacks and Hispanics remained significantly over-represented in the category of pretextual (investigatory) stops 

• Disparities in stop outcomes.

  • The overall rate of occupants being removed from vehicles declined yet the rate for Blacks increased to more than 5 times the rate of Whites. The rate for Hispanics is more than 2 times the rate of Whites.

  • The rate of tickets being issued declined slightly.  Hispanics and Asians continue to be ticketed at the highest rates of all cohorts.

  • Overall, the rate of arrests decreased while the rate for Blacks increased. 

  • The rate of stops adjudicated by issuance of verbal warnings in creased for Whites, decreased for Asians and remained static for Blacks and Hispanics.

  • The overall rate of vehicle searches increased slightly.  The rate for Whites was 1.7%; the rate for Blacks was 9.0%; and the rate for Hispanics was 3.7%

  • The rate of non-productive searches declined significantly.   The rate of non-productive searches was highest for Blacks at 69.4%.  The rate for Whites was 56.6%; the rate for Hispanics was 57%.  All searches of Asians produced contraband. 
    Racial/ethnic disparity in search “hit” rates is a reliable indicator of the influence of racial/ethnic bias in discretionary traffic stop and enforcement decisions.

Quarterly Report: Quarter 1 2020, Suffolk County Police Department Traffic Stops - June 2021

This report is a period vs. period analysis that compares traffic stop activity in the 1st quarter 2020 to the activity in the 1st quarter 2019.

Major Takeaways:

• Disparities in stop decisions:

  • The 1st quarter 2020 had significantly fewer traffic stops than did the 1st quarter 2019, likely due to COVID-19 pandemic precautions.

  • Blacks and Latinos remained at considerably greater risk of being stopped than Whites and Asians.

  • The odds of being stopped increased slightly for Latinos, were unchanged for Whites and Asians, and declined slightly for Blacks. Blacks and Latinos continued to have significantly higher odds of being stopped than Whites and Asians.

  • In spite of the overall decline in traffic stops, there was an increase in pretextual (investigatory) stops. Blacks and Latinos continued to be subjected to pretextual investigatory stops, such as stops for equipment and seat belt violations, at far greater rates than Whites.

• Disparities in stop outcomes.

  • Latinos and Asians continued to be ticketed at higher rates than the other cohorts.

  • The proportion of occupants removed from their vehicles declined overall. The rate for Whites and Asians declined most significantly. The rate for Latinos declined slightly yet remained more than double that of Whites. The rate for Blacks did not change and was 5.5 times the rate of Whites.

  • While the overall rate at which occupants were restrained declined, Blacks were restrained at three times the rate of Whites.

  • While the overall rate at which occupants were arrested declined, the rate for Blacks increased to nearly 2½ times the rate of Whites.

  • Total vehicle searches declined yet Blacks’ vehicles were searched at the highest rate of all cohorts - more than twice the rate of Whites’.

  • While overall contraband recovery rates increased, searches of Blacks’ vehicles recovered contraband at the lowest rate of all cohorts. Experts regard significant disparities in search rates and contraband recovery rates (“hit rates”) between racial and ethnic cohorts as clear indication of the influence of racial bias in discretionary enforcement decisions.

Annual Report Year-Ending 2020, Suffolk County Police Department Traffic Stops - June 2021

Major Takeaways:

• Blacks and Latinos are at increased risk of being stopped than Whites and Asians.

• While total stops declined in 2020, the odds of being stopped increased for Blacks to nearly 3 times the rate of Whites. Latinos are more than 1½ times more likely than Whites to be stopped.

• Blacks are subjected to pretextual investigatory stops, such as stops for equipment and seat belt violations, at far greater rates than Whites.

• Once stopped, it doesn’t get any better. Blacks and Latinos are then subjected to more severe discretionary enforcement actions than are Whites and Asians.

  • Latinos are ticketed at the highest rates of all the cohorts.

  • Blacks are removed from their vehicles at twice the rate of the general population. And while the rate at which White and Asian occupants were removed from their vehicles declined in 2020, it increased for Blacks.

  • Blacks are restrained at twice the rate of Whites.

  • Blacks are arrested at more than double the rate of Whites.

  • Blacks’ vehicles are searched at more than twice the rate of Whites’ with the gap widening in 2020.

  • Perhaps most significant, searches of Blacks’ vehicles recovered contraband at lower rates than searches of Whites’ vehicles. Experts regard significant disparities in search rates and contraband recovery rates (“hit rates”) between racial and ethnic cohorts as clear indication of the influence of racial bias in discretionary enforcement decisions.

Rather than providing essential relief, SCPD’s much touted anti-bias training has failed to stop increasing disparity in discretionary traffic enforcement actions that motorists of color experience daily on Suffolk County roadways.

A change in organizational culture is required to move beyond the status quo. Training initiatives are inadequate substitutes for the appropriate alignment of organizational imperatives and incentives with stated values and objectives. Rewarding those who engage in such aggressive discretionary practices with commendations, coveted assignments and appointment to the rank of Detective provides compelling incentive to preserve the status quo.

These disturbing trends are likely to continue as long as leadership places greater focus on assuaging growing concerns with lip service than on addressing root causes through meaningful realignment. Cultural realignment requires political will and innovative leadership. To date, little of either is in evidence.

Click here for traffic stop research highlights