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How do police use race in traffic stops and searches? Tests based on observability of race

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  • Ritter, Joseph A.

Abstract

When a police officer decides whether to initiate a traffic stop, the driver’s race is less likely to be known during darkness, but always observed after the stop takes place. If officers use information optimally, this flow of information about race leads to specific empirical predictions, which are tested using data on traffic stops in Minneapolis. The prediction about stops is supported, but those concerning searches are not. This pattern of results implies that police choices were inconsistent, which is evidence against both statistical discrimination and optimizing with a taste for discrimination. The results may reflect cognitive biases present in the time-sensitive decision to initiate a stop.

Suggested Citation

  • Ritter, Joseph A., 2017. "How do police use race in traffic stops and searches? Tests based on observability of race," Miscellaneous Publications 253354, University of Minnesota, Department of Applied Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:umaemp:253354
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.253354
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kate Antonovics & Brian G. Knight, 2009. "A New Look at Racial Profiling: Evidence from the Boston Police Department," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 91(1), pages 163-177, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jesse Kalinowski & Stephen L. Ross & Matthew B. Ross, 2017. "Endogenous Driving Behavior in Tests of Racial Profiling in Police Traffic Stops," Working Papers 2017-017, Human Capital and Economic Opportunity Working Group.
    2. Jesse Kalinowski & Matthew B. Ross & Stephen L. Ross, 2019. "Addressing Seasonality in Veil of Darkness Tests for Discrimination: An Instrumental Variables Approach," Working papers 2019-07, University of Connecticut, Department of Economics.
    3. Makofske, Matthew, 2020. "Pretextual Traffic Stops and Racial Disparities in their Use," MPRA Paper 100792, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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