All has been confirmed, one state is reworking its legislation so as to prevent the police from stopping drivers on account of minor traffic offenses. The offences that will not gain policemen’s attention would include misdemeanors such as having tinted windows, broken taillights, or even expired registration stickers. In what has been stated as Senate Bill S3662A, it seems that one state is easing off on road laws while all the other states are stringently enforcing newer legislations in favor of road safety.
The real reason for Senate Bill S3662A
This legislation is said to keep the aim of reducing racial profiling in mind. Many times, people of color tend to get pulled over by police officers, and the law in place seeks to prevent these unnecessary interactions with police.
Preventing police from stopping drivers who commit light offenses will reduce the number of road interactions between the police and people of color. Advocates in favor of this bill state that many times, people tend to get pulled over due to the color of their skin, and not the severity of the offence.
What the bill will do is reduce anxiety for many Latino and black drivers. The bill works in favor of racial equality on the road, as has been asserted by the bill’s sponsor, State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal. Advocates for this bill suggest that cases of reckless driving and serious violations will still be picked up, and hence, safety on the road won’t be a concern due to the enactment and reinforcement of this law.
Such a law is being put forward to shield criminal drivers, according to critics
The bill being passed in one of the U.S. states has earned much criticism from citizens opposed to this new law. According to critics, the law will lead to drivers taking less accountability and will lead to drivers who put road safety at the back of their minds.
Such a law has dangerous consequences because many critics are of the opinion that minor offences would, in turn, mask severe road violations and unacceptable behavior on the roads. Taking away the police’s ability to do their jobs would invite criminal drivers to ride on by without facing any consequences whatsoever.
With some states focusing on speed-limiting devices and other technological measures to track unfair road practices, it is yet to be seen if this law could spell bad news or good news for drivers in the state.
Two sides of the coin: In favor of the protection of races or in favor of road safety
Both sides of New York Senate Bill S3662A must be looked at. While New York has been making headlines of late for issuing speeding fines and fines for breaking other traffic laws, it seems rather uncanny that New York will be doing away with routine checks on drivers. With 15mph becoming the new norm in the state, it seems rather strange that checks for all misdemeanors will not be the norm any longer.
According to District Attorney Anne Donnelly, the remembrance of a traffic stop back in 1993 further advocates why this law is bad. The 1993 road stop was what had resulted in the capture of the serial killer Joel Rifkin, who had merely been pulled over for his missing license plate.
While the bill thrives on being in favor of doing away with any racial discrimination and bias, many New Yorkers feel that the bill advocates for the lack of law enforcement measures on the roads. Many fear that when this law is in full swing, New York roads will be filled with unsafe, uninsured, and unregistered vehicles. No road abuser will get caught in the act of not abiding by road rules in this way.
