Racial Disparities in Traffic Stops: Examining Non-Moving Violation Outcomes in Connecticut

by

Name: Emerson Rabow

Live Poster Session:
https://wesleyan.zoom.us/j/97841842045

Meeting ID: 978 4184 2045

Emerson Rabow

Emerson Rabow is a senior at Wesleyan University double majoring in Psychology and Government, with concentrations in International Relations and American Politics. He is originally from Marin County, California. As a pre-law intern at the Marin County Public Defender’s Office, Emerson worked on multiple cases involving Racial Justice Act violations. Emerson selected his course research due to his interest in the criminal justice system and investigating racial discrimination.

Abstract: This study investigates racial disparities in non-moving violation traffic stops in Connecticut, utilizing data from the Connecticut Traffic Stop Racial Profiling Prohibition Project. Drawing on a subset of 313,346 observations from over 3.1 million traffic stops conducted in 2022, the research examines the relationship between drivers’ race and gender with the likelihood of being stopped for non-moving violations and receiving punitive outcomes. Statistical analysis reveals that Black drivers are disproportionately stopped for non-moving violations compared to other racial groups and are 32.6% more likely to receive negative outcomes (e.g., infractions, arrests) than White drivers. Asian drivers, in contrast, exhibit significantly reduced odds of negative outcomes, while Native American drivers show no significant association. Gender further compounds disparities, with male drivers being 17.5% more likely than females to receive punitive outcomes. The findings suggest non-moving violations serve as mechanisms for racial discrimination in traffic enforcement, highlighting the urgent need for policy reform to ensure equity and fairness. Future research should expand to include broader racial/ethnic groups and diverse geographical contexts.

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