Bill to track race at traffic stops dies in Alabama Legislature
Alabama lawmakers moved to end the legislative session without a final vote on a bill to collect data on race and traffic stops. House Speaker Mac McCutcheon said Thursday the bill would not get a vote on what will be the last day of the session. African-American lawmakers named the bill a priority. It stalled in the House after being unanimously approved by the Senate. Sen. Rodger Smitherman, the Democratic bill’s sponsor, said he was insulted that McCutcheon told the media the bill was dead for the session, but didn’t tell him. Smitherman said all he wanted was a vote. The Alabama Senate on Thursday passed the education budget and then voted to end the session. While the Senate adjourned through the session, House members continued to meet through mid-morning. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
House delays vote, continues negotiations on bill to track race at traffic stops
Alabama lawmakers on Tuesday adjourned before debating a highly controversial bill that would require police officers to collect data about race and ethnicity at traffic stops, so that they could continue negotiations. The bill, SB84, sponsored by Birmingham-Democrat state Sen. Rodger Smitherman, has been added to Wednesday’s first special order calendar. It seeks to put an end to the racial profiling of Alabama drivers. The legislation would require police agencies to record data about the race and ethnicity of stopped motorists including the nature of the alleged traffic violation that resulted in the stop and whether a warning or citation was issued, an arrest made, or a search conducted as a result of the stop. Law enforcement agencies would then report the information to the attorney general, who would compile a report and penalize police departments who are guilty of racial profiling in the form of withholding funds from the county or municipal police department until such time that the county or municipal police department completes appropriate training regarding racial profiling. The Alabama Senate unanimously approved the legislation in January, but the measure failed a procedural vote in the House last week when lawmakers refused to debate the bill.
State House to reconsider traffic stop racial profiling bill
Alabama lawmakers on Tuesday will debate highly controversial legislation that would require police officers to collect data about race and ethnicity at traffic stops. SB84, sponsored by Birmingham-Democrat state Sen. Rodger Smitherman, seeks to put an end to the racial profiling of Alabama drivers. It is on the proposed special order calendar. The legislation would require police agencies to record data about the race and ethnicity of stopped motorists including the nature of the alleged traffic violation that resulted in the stop and whether a warning or citation was issued, an arrest made, or a search conducted as a result of the stop. Law enforcement agencies would then report the information to the attorney general, who would compile a report and penalize police departments who are guilty of racial profiling in the form of withholding funds from the county or municipal police department until such time that the county or municipal police department completes appropriate training regarding racial profiling. The Alabama Senate unanimously approved the legislation in January, but the measure failed a procedural vote in the House last week when lawmakers refused to debate the bill. Supporters of SB84 believe records would reveal if there’s a pattern of police stopping drivers simply because they are African-American, which could help put an end to the alleged practice once and for all. Meanwhile, the Alabama Sheriff’s Association opposes the bill saying it creates an unnecessary burden on law enforcement to collect the information.
