A new report by the Illinois American Civil Liberties Union shows racial disparities in local and statewide traffic stops.
Black and Hispanic motorists are more likely than white drivers to be consent searched when stopped by cops. But white motorists are more likely to have contraband turn up in searches.
This is prompting the ACLU to call for an end to consent searches in Illinois.
Click on the red dots in the graph below to learn more about the the report and its findings. These graphs show average traffic stop rates from the last five years.
Source: American Civil Liberties Union Illinois
Disparities in local traffic stops
Disparities in statewide traffic stops
Black drivers more likely to be stopped in Chicago
In Chicago, African-American drivers are more likely than Hispanics and whites to be pulled over in traffic stops. This is in contrast to state statistics that show that white drivers are far more likely to be pulled over by police statewide.
This rate has been consistent over the past 10 years. Meanwhile, stopped drivers in Chicago have been least likely to be Latino.
Blacks and Latinos more likely to be searched
Black and Hispanic drivers pulled over in traffic stops are almost five times more likely to consent to traffic searches than white drivers.
The ACLU says many feel coerced and that most drivers consent to searches when asked, despite the process being voluntary.
If a driver does not consent to search, he or she risks the officer using dogs to sniff for drugs.
Data on dog sniffiing has only been mandated since 2011. In 2013, black drivers were 50% more likely than white drivers to be dog sniffed in Illinois.
White drivers more likely to have contraband
Even though white drivers stopped in Chicago are five times less likely than minority drivers to consent to searches, they are more likely to have contraband found when they do.
In 2013, white motorists were more than twice as likely than minority drivers to be found with contraband in traffic searches.
White drivers more likely to be stopped
Unlike local statistics, white motorists are three to four times more likely than minorities to be pulled over statewide.
But these drivers are less likely to be searched.
Black drivers more likely to be searched
Despite white motorists being stopped by police more than black and Hispanic drivers, minority drivers are twice as likely to consent to search.
When motorists don’t consent to search, they risk officers using dogs to sniff their vehicles. 2013 data showed that black drivers were more likely than white drivers to be dog sniffed, but less likely to turn up contraband.
White drivers more likely to have contraband
White drivers pulled over in Illinois turn up more contraband than other motorists.
But most white drivers refuse searches or aren’t asked.
Meanwhile, black and Latino drivers are searched more often despite being less likely to have contraband.