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Connecticut hearing spotlights bill to limit non‑safety traffic stops amid racial‑disparity concerns
Summary
The Judiciary Committee heard competing testimony March 7 on HB 7132, which would narrow police authority to stop drivers for low‑level equipment and administrative violations and redirect enforcement toward dangerous driving behaviors.
The Judiciary Committee held a public hearing March 7 on HB 7132, a bill that would narrow when officers may stop motorists for minor equipment and administrative violations and instead direct enforcement to behaviors that more directly cause crashes.
Supporters told the committee that minor equipment and paperwork stops are a large share of traffic contacts but rarely contribute to crashes, and that those stops disproportionately involve Black and Latinx motorists. Christopher Bowman of the Center for Policing Equity said evidence from multiple jurisdictions shows reducing non‑safety stops can lower racial disparity without raising crashes. Daniel Boda of the Vera Institute argued similar points, saying administrative…
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