New York Proposal Aims to Ban Police Traffic Stops for Minor Violations in Push for Racial Equity
April 7, 2025 — A controversial bill advancing through the New York State Legislature seeks to prohibit police from conducting traffic stops for minor violations, framing the measure as a step toward “racial equity and public safety.” Introduced as Senate Bill S3662A by State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal, the proposal would bar officers from pulling over drivers for infractions like a broken taillight, expired registration tags, excessive window tint, or the smell of marijuana—offenses critics argue disproportionately target racial minorities.
The legislation, which could reach the floor before the session ends in June, aims to reduce what its sponsors call “unnecessary interactions” between police and motorists. Under the plan, such violations would be addressed via mailed warnings or citations using license plate data, rather than on-the-spot stops. Evidence obtained from stops violating the bill could be suppressed in court, a provision intended to deter enforcement. Supporters, including some Long Islanders interviewed by CBS New York, say it would curb racial profiling, pointing to data showing Black and Latino drivers in Nassau County account for 50% of traffic stops and 61% of arrests, despite comprising less than 30% of the population.
Opposition has been fierce, particularly from law enforcement and local leaders. Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman called the bill “pro-criminal” and “bizarre,” arguing that officers rarely know a driver’s race before a stop. “If you’re breaking the law, you’re breaking the law,” he told reporters Friday, per the New York Post. Nassau Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder emphasized that minor stops—like those for broken lights—often yield warnings but can uncover serious crimes, citing a recent stop that netted cocaine, fentanyl, and ketamine. District Attorney Anne Donnelly went further, dubbing it “the most ridiculous thing I’ve seen in 36 years in law enforcement,” recalling how a 1993 stop for a missing license plate led to serial killer Joel Rifkin’s arrest. “There’s no such thing as a routine traffic stop,” she warned.
The proposal mirrors a national trend—Philadelphia banned similar stops in 2021, and Virginia followed in 2023—driven by data showing Black drivers are stopped and searched more often, though contraband is found less frequently than in white drivers’ vehicles. In New York, the bill’s backers argue it reallocates police resources to serious offenses while healing community trust. Yet critics, including Ryder, fear it could embolden lawbreakers, noting that 19 U.S. officers were killed during traffic stops last year alone.
As Trump’s new tariffs roil markets and dominate headlines, this state-level debate adds another layer of tension to public safety discussions. With the legislative clock ticking, New York’s proposal stands at a crossroads—praised as a bold equity move by some, decried as a reckless gamble by others. Whether it passes, its ripple effects could reshape policing statewide.
