It looks like the protests from community activists in Minneapolis last year have finally paid off. The city has decided to make some much-needed policy changes.
Officers will no longer stop drivers for minor traffic violations, such as expired license plates or dangling air fresheners on rearview mirrors, the Associated Press reported.
Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arrandondo said the department is changing its policies after reviewing how officers can better use time and resources, documents obtained from Star Tribune stated.
“MPD will no longer be conducting traffic stops solely for these offenses: expired tabs, an item dangling from a mirror, or not having a working license plate light,” Arradondo wrote in the memo.
Last year, protestors flooded Minneapolis streets, saying that these same low-level traffic stops disproportionately targeted minorities and demanded the city make changes.
Minneapolis Attorney Jim Rowader released a statement highlighting the city’s commitment to “addressing the racial inequalities in traffic stops while not compromising public safety.”
“The City Attorney’s Office recommended these changes to the mayor and chief after a very thorough and thoughtful analysis,” Rowader wrote. “While expired tabs will no longer be the primary reason for a traffic stop, this offense will still be enforced in other ways. Whenever a vehicle with expired tabs is stopped for speeding, red-light running, or any other public safety reason, the expired tabs charge can and should be added to the citation. The City’s Traffic Control agents will also continue to enforce expired tabs on parked vehicles as part of their work…These new policies are just one small step in addressing the disparities around traffic stops while freeing up resources to focus on offenses that have a direct impact [on] public safety.”
On Twitter, mayor Frey posted his own update on the issue, mentioning his administration was working with the department on reform for traffic enforcement.
“Another concrete change moving us in the right direction,” Frey tweeted. “To be clear, it’s against the law to have expired tabs, you can still get a ticket for expired tabs, for instance, if you’re parked — and it’s noted your tabs aren’t up-to-date — the only difference, and it’s an important one, is that you wouldn’t get pulled over for those infractions as a primary reason. I think this is the right direction to go.”
