Amid Controversy, Greensboro Police Temporarily End Traffic Stops For Minor Infractions

The Greensboro Police Department is making changes to several of its policies in the wake of a New York Times piece criticizing the way it handles race.

The October article found that, in Greensboro, black drivers were proportionally far more likely to be pulled over than white drivers. It also says they were also more likely to be searched, and more likely to have force used against them, even if the driver did not resist the officer.

Now the department says it's taking action. On Tuesday, Chief Wayne Scott issued an order suspending traffic stops for so-called “vehicle equipment infractions,” which are among the main reasons police stop drivers.

“These types of stops are clearly an area of concern,” Scott said in a statement. “On its face, the data shows that racial disparities in traffic stops do exist. However, the numbers alone cannot possibly tell us the reasons for these differences.”

He goes on to say the department is looking to engage with residents in more meaningful ways than the stops provide.

That means, for now, Greensboro officers won't pull people over for small things like a broken tail light.

Scott also says the force is focusing more on neighborhood policing. He says the combination of fewer stops and more cops out on the beat are good first steps in connecting the police with residents.

The department says it's ordered some academic evaluation of its own data in an effort to better understand the root causes of reported racial disparities.