MISSOURI LAWMAKER INTRODUCES BILL TO END RACIAL PROFILING

State Sen. Wayne Goode wants to put a halt to traffic stops based on race.

The St. Louis-area Democrat has introduced a bill that would require police agencies in Missouri to keep statistics on each traffic stop, including the race, age and gender of the driver.

Police agencies also would have to report the alleged violations that led to the stop, whether a search was conducted and the results of the search, and any warnings, citations or arrests that were made.

Goode's bill, designed to prevent racial profiling, would require police agencies to annually in March report the data to the state's attorney general. The attorney general would then review the data and submit a report to the governor and the Legislature. The report would identify any patterns regarding any disproportionate share of stops of minority motorists.

Goode's bill would allow the governor to withhold state funds from any law enforcement agency that fails to comply.

A Senate committee unanimously approved the bill last week.

"I think there is no question, based on polling and other information, that there is some amount of racial bias in traffic stops, and people that I know tell me that they have been stopped for no other reason," said Goode.

Requiring law enforcement agencies to keep statistics would encourage police to take steps to prevent racial profiling, he said.

But Cape Girardeau Police Chief Rick Hetzel opposes the bill. "I don't think it really accomplishes anything.

"First of all, our department has never engaged in racial profiling," he said.

Hetzel said his agency already collects data concerning traffic tickets and arrests.

Hetzel said his officers don't stop motorists on the base of race. The ethnic makeup of a driver isn't an issue, he said.

"Our stops are predicated upon probable cause or reasonable suspicion that something has occurred," the police chief said.

But state Sen. William L. Clay Jr., D-St. Louis, agrees with Goode that the Legislature needs to address the issue.

"It's a practice that we should outlaw," said Clay, who earlier this session floated an amendment to require law enforcement offices to report the age, gender and race of motorists they stop or arrest.

Clay subsequently withdrew his amendment to a drunk-driving bill. But Clay said he may reintroduce a measure later in the session.

"It's a practice that we should outlaw," Clay said of racial profiling.

"It winds up just intimidating people and it's not fair," said Clay.

Clay, who is black, said he experienced racial profiling when he was growing up in Washington, D.C.

"Because you are a person of color, you should not be harassed through the use of traffic stops," he said.

Clay dismisses critics who say police statistics won't show if there was actual racial bias in a particular traffic stop.

"I don't have a real major concern over that," he said. "I think figures don't lie, but liars can figure."