MINNEAPOLIS — In a new revelation regarding traffic enforcement in Minneapolis, police officers now have the option to hand out repair vouchers rather than tickets for broken headlights or turn signals. It’s a policy change aimed in part at addressing racial disparities in traffic stops, reported WJON.
The new policy comes almost a year after a community forum in which residents aired their frustrations over what they saw as years of harassment and discrimination at the hands of police.
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Activists reportedly believe the program is a step in the right direction in addressing racial disparities.
However, an unintended consequence will likely be a significant reduction in warrant arrests, as outstanding warrants for criminal violations are frequently discovered during traffic stops. Or perhaps Minneapolis law violators will be more apt to surrender to police if they are not receiving citations for equipment violations?
Perhaps Mayor Frey believes citations for equipment violations are somehow “fear based” and connected to “warrior training,” which he abhors.
We really don’t know. Details of the program — i.e. who is paying the bill? — were not included in the report.
