Report: Few Felony Arrests Come from Increased Memphis Traffic Stops - Articles

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Report: Few Felony Arrests Come from Increased Memphis Traffic Stops

Posted by: Paul Burch on Feb 20, 2024

A new study released Monday shows that in the months after Tyre Nichols' death and passage of an ordinance preventing police from stopping drivers for low-level traffic infractions, the police department increased the number citations issued, reports the Commercial Appeal. The study, Decarcerate Memphis' annual Driving While BIPOC, used information gathered from traffic citations issued by the Memphis Police Department and Shelby County's court system to determine the impact on Black, indigenous and other people of color. The report found that the vast majority of the 2023 pretexts for stopping someone were for vehicle registration issues, and those pretexts were overwhelmingly against Black people. "... Traffic stops are ineffective at reducing or preventing crime," said Alex Hensley, policy chair and steering committee member for the organization.