Federal Judge says "Black drivers have a problem in Richmond"

[Superbadbrutha]

Richmond police stop Black drivers at a significantly higher rate than white drivers.

• That's according to a federal judge who found in Richmond a "disgraceful disparity in enforcement of traffic laws, with Black drivers getting the short end of the stick," the Times-Dispatch's Luca Powell reports.

Why it matters: Virginia passed legislation in 2020 aimed at reducing instances of racial profiling and disparities in traffic stops, yet they seem to persist throughout the state and in Richmond.

What's happening: U.S. District Court Judge John A. Gibney Jr. made the ruling earlier this week in a motion to dismiss the case against Keith Rodney Moore, a Black man who was pulled over in Highland Park in December 2020.

• Moore had a prior felony conviction, fled the scene, was caught and found to illegally have a gun in his car, for which he was arrested.

Yes, but: Moore's lawyer argued he shouldn't have been pulled over to begin with and was only stopped because he is Black.

• His defense included six months of RPD traffic stop data, which Virginia police departments have been required to submit since 2020 as part of the Community Policing Act
• The data for the last six months of 2020 showed Richmond police stopped Black drivers at more than five times the rate it stopped white drivers.

By the numbers: Between July 2020 and Dec. 5, 2020, when Moore was arrested, 77% of drivers stopped by Richmond police were Black and 15% were white.

• Richmond's demographics in 2020 were 46% white and 45% Black.
• Additionally, Richmond officers were "far more likely" to search Black drivers and their cars than white drivers. Black drivers were 12.67 times more likely to be arrested as a result of the stop, according to evidence in the case, per the ruling.

What they're saying: "Black drivers have a problem in Richmond, Virginia," Gibney wrote. He added in his ruling that data indicates the issue is statewide and shows a "remarkable record of picking on Black drivers."

• "One would think that Virginia's citizens would cry out in protest over this situation, but they don't."

The other side: Richmond police Chief Rick Edwards, who started in his post in October 2022, strenuously pushed back on the opinion, per the RTD.

• "The Richmond Police Department does not stop motorists based on race," Edwards wrote in a statement to the paper.
• And data pulled by the paper to show a broader traffic stop period (July 1, 2020-September 30, 2023) found smaller racial disparities in stops: 61% of drivers stopped by RPD were Black and 31% white.
• Edwards added that he has a "deep and long-lasting commitment to protecting the citizens of Richmond and doing so in a manner that is professional, fair and impartial."

MSN

How many times have we been told that this doesn't happen in America anymore.

 

[excalibur]

Blacks are notorious for ignoring traffic laws. Police aren't stopping them for no reason other than driving while black.

 

[DukeU]

Between July 2020 and Dec. 5, 2020

If you narrow the timeline of the stats to 5 minutes on July 1st you might could get the number up to 100% black.

 

[excalibur]

Oh, an Obama appointee.

 

[AZrailwhale]

Richmond police stop Black drivers at a significantly higher rate than white drivers.

• That's according to a federal judge who found in Richmond a "disgraceful disparity in enforcement of traffic laws, with Black drivers getting the short end of the stick," the Times-Dispatch's Luca Powell reports.

Why it matters: Virginia passed legislation in 2020 aimed at reducing instances of racial profiling and disparities in traffic stops, yet they seem to persist throughout the state and in Richmond.

What's happening: U.S. District Court Judge John A. Gibney Jr. made the ruling earlier this week in a motion to dismiss the case against Keith Rodney Moore, a Black man who was pulled over in Highland Park in December 2020.

• Moore had a prior felony conviction, fled the scene, was caught and found to illegally have a gun in his car, for which he was arrested.

Yes, but: Moore's lawyer argued he shouldn't have been pulled over to begin with and was only stopped because he is Black.

• His defense included six months of RPD traffic stop data, which Virginia police departments have been required to submit since 2020 as part of the Community Policing Act
• The data for the last six months of 2020 showed Richmond police stopped Black drivers at more than five times the rate it stopped white drivers.

By the numbers: Between July 2020 and Dec. 5, 2020, when Moore was arrested, 77% of drivers stopped by Richmond police were Black and 15% were white.

• Richmond's demographics in 2020 were 46% white and 45% Black.
• Additionally, Richmond officers were "far more likely" to search Black drivers and their cars than white drivers. Black drivers were 12.67 times more likely to be arrested as a result of the stop, according to evidence in the case, per the ruling.

What they're saying: "Black drivers have a problem in Richmond, Virginia," Gibney wrote. He added in his ruling that data indicates the issue is statewide and shows a "remarkable record of picking on Black drivers."

• "One would think that Virginia's citizens would cry out in protest over this situation, but they don't."

The other side: Richmond police Chief Rick Edwards, who started in his post in October 2022, strenuously pushed back on the opinion, per the RTD.

• "The Richmond Police Department does not stop motorists based on race," Edwards wrote in a statement to the paper.
• And data pulled by the paper to show a broader traffic stop period (July 1, 2020-September 30, 2023) found smaller racial disparities in stops: 61% of drivers stopped by RPD were Black and 31% white.
• Edwards added that he has a "deep and long-lasting commitment to protecting the citizens of Richmond and doing so in a manner that is professional, fair and impartial."

MSN

How many times have we been told that this doesn't happen in America anymore.

Those figures aren’t too far off the demographic make up of Richmond. According to the census, it’s 45% black and 41% white and the black population is skewed towards the thirty and below demographic that tends to violate traffic laws and drive cars that attract cops by having things like loud exhausts and dark tinted windows. When I was in that age group, I tended to get stoped by cops a lot because I drove fast.

 

[Superbadbrutha]

Maybe they should slow down when speeding away after robbing the local Walmart.

Ladies and Gentlemen we have a real Lenny Bruce here, talk about a real funny guy.

 

[Superbadbrutha]

If you narrow the timeline of the stats to 5 minutes on July 1st you might could get the number up to 100% black.

If a frog had a glass ass, it would break every time he jumps.

 

[Superbadbrutha]

Those figures aren’t too far off the demographic make up of Richmond. According to the census, it’s 45% black and 41% white and the black population is skewed towards the thirty and below demographic that tends to violate traffic laws and drive cars that attract cops by having things like loud exhausts and dark tinted windows. When I was in that age group, I tended to get stoped by cops a lot because I drove fast.

What's the maximum effective range of an excuse?

 

[Superbadbrutha]

Blacks are notorious for ignoring traffic laws. Police aren't stopping them for no reason other than driving while black.

According to who? White racist like you.

 

[CrusaderFrank]

Richmond police stop Black drivers at a significantly higher rate than white drivers.

• That's according to a federal judge who found in Richmond a "disgraceful disparity in enforcement of traffic laws, with Black drivers getting the short end of the stick," the Times-Dispatch's Luca Powell reports.

Why it matters: Virginia passed legislation in 2020 aimed at reducing instances of racial profiling and disparities in traffic stops, yet they seem to persist throughout the state and in Richmond.

What's happening: U.S. District Court Judge John A. Gibney Jr. made the ruling earlier this week in a motion to dismiss the case against Keith Rodney Moore, a Black man who was pulled over in Highland Park in December 2020.

• Moore had a prior felony conviction, fled the scene, was caught and found to illegally have a gun in his car, for which he was arrested.

Yes, but: Moore's lawyer argued he shouldn't have been pulled over to begin with and was only stopped because he is Black.

• His defense included six months of RPD traffic stop data, which Virginia police departments have been required to submit since 2020 as part of the Community Policing Act
• The data for the last six months of 2020 showed Richmond police stopped Black drivers at more than five times the rate it stopped white drivers.

By the numbers: Between July 2020 and Dec. 5, 2020, when Moore was arrested, 77% of drivers stopped by Richmond police were Black and 15% were white.

• Richmond's demographics in 2020 were 46% white and 45% Black.
• Additionally, Richmond officers were "far more likely" to search Black drivers and their cars than white drivers. Black drivers were 12.67 times more likely to be arrested as a result of the stop, according to evidence in the case, per the ruling.

What they're saying: "Black drivers have a problem in Richmond, Virginia," Gibney wrote. He added in his ruling that data indicates the issue is statewide and shows a "remarkable record of picking on Black drivers."

• "One would think that Virginia's citizens would cry out in protest over this situation, but they don't."

The other side: Richmond police Chief Rick Edwards, who started in his post in October 2022, strenuously pushed back on the opinion, per the RTD.

• "The Richmond Police Department does not stop motorists based on race," Edwards wrote in a statement to the paper.
• And data pulled by the paper to show a broader traffic stop period (July 1, 2020-September 30, 2023) found smaller racial disparities in stops: 61% of drivers stopped by RPD were Black and 31% white.
• Edwards added that he has a "deep and long-lasting commitment to protecting the citizens of Richmond and doing so in a manner that is professional, fair and impartial."

MSN

How many times have we been told that this doesn't happen in America anymore.

Richmond VA, run by democrats

 

[Superbadbrutha]

Richmond VA, run by democrats

So, all the police officers in Richmond VA are Democrats. Wow thxs for that bit of information.

 

[Burgermeister]

Convicted felon with an illegal gun who fled the scene. Terrible example to try and rally outrage around. Only serves to validate stereotypes.

Should we expect a park to be named after this guy now?

 

[j-mac]

Yawn** So, it’s the age old excuse offered anytime a black person is facing any accountability for anything…”you’re only doing this cuz I’m black”…

Boring.

 

[Tommy Tainant]

Richmond police stop Black drivers at a significantly higher rate than white drivers.

• That's according to a federal judge who found in Richmond a "disgraceful disparity in enforcement of traffic laws, with Black drivers getting the short end of the stick," the Times-Dispatch's Luca Powell reports.

Why it matters: Virginia passed legislation in 2020 aimed at reducing instances of racial profiling and disparities in traffic stops, yet they seem to persist throughout the state and in Richmond.

What's happening: U.S. District Court Judge John A. Gibney Jr. made the ruling earlier this week in a motion to dismiss the case against Keith Rodney Moore, a Black man who was pulled over in Highland Park in December 2020.

• Moore had a prior felony conviction, fled the scene, was caught and found to illegally have a gun in his car, for which he was arrested.

Yes, but: Moore's lawyer argued he shouldn't have been pulled over to begin with and was only stopped because he is Black.

• His defense included six months of RPD traffic stop data, which Virginia police departments have been required to submit since 2020 as part of the Community Policing Act
• The data for the last six months of 2020 showed Richmond police stopped Black drivers at more than five times the rate it stopped white drivers.

By the numbers: Between July 2020 and Dec. 5, 2020, when Moore was arrested, 77% of drivers stopped by Richmond police were Black and 15% were white.

• Richmond's demographics in 2020 were 46% white and 45% Black.
• Additionally, Richmond officers were "far more likely" to search Black drivers and their cars than white drivers. Black drivers were 12.67 times more likely to be arrested as a result of the stop, according to evidence in the case, per the ruling.

What they're saying: "Black drivers have a problem in Richmond, Virginia," Gibney wrote. He added in his ruling that data indicates the issue is statewide and shows a "remarkable record of picking on Black drivers."

• "One would think that Virginia's citizens would cry out in protest over this situation, but they don't."

The other side: Richmond police Chief Rick Edwards, who started in his post in October 2022, strenuously pushed back on the opinion, per the RTD.

• "The Richmond Police Department does not stop motorists based on race," Edwards wrote in a statement to the paper.
• And data pulled by the paper to show a broader traffic stop period (July 1, 2020-September 30, 2023) found smaller racial disparities in stops: 61% of drivers stopped by RPD were Black and 31% white.
• Edwards added that he has a "deep and long-lasting commitment to protecting the citizens of Richmond and doing so in a manner that is professional, fair and impartial."

MSN

How many times have we been told that this doesn't happen in America anymore.

My son in law is black and he gets pulled over every couple of weeks. My daughter , who drives the same car, has never been pulled over ever.
Its a rigged system.

 

[CrusaderFrank]

So, all the police officers in Richmond VA are Democrats. Wow thxs for that bit of information.

Who runs the police Department there, Trump?

 

[DukeU]

If a frog had a glass ass, it would break every time he jumps.

If the narrative was real they wouldn't have to manipulate the numbers.

 

[drudge X]

My son in law is black and he gets pulled over every couple of weeks. My daughter , who drives the same car, has never been pulled over ever.
Its a rigged system.

The bs meter is on red for this one.

 

[Superbadbrutha]

Who runs the police Department there, Trump?

White folks.

 

[CrusaderFrank]

White folks.

White democrat folks -- that explains a lot

 

[CrusaderFrank]

My son in law is black and he gets pulled over every couple of weeks. My daughter , who drives the same car, has never been pulled over ever.
Its a rigged system.

I get pulled over every day, since i started identifying as black -- for reparations. Dayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyum!