Mo. minority drivers stopped at higher rate than whites

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Black drivers are more likely to be stopped in Missouri than white and Hispanic motorists.

An annual state report found that in 2007 a black motorist was 66 percent more likely to be stopped than a white one. Hispanic drivers were slightly more likely to be pulled over than whites.

The annual report is required under a 2000 state law. All but 22 of the state's more than 700 police departments reported data.

White drivers accounted for the majority of the more than 1.5 million stops in 2007. But when broken down by demographics, black drivers were stopped more than expected, whites less and Hispanics were pulled over in line with their portion of the population.

Hispanics were most likely to have their vehicle searched.