Is there evidence of racial disparities in traffic stops in Florida?
Analysis of ticketing behavior in the Florida Highway Patrol provides evidence that discrimination in the distribution of speeding tickets is a more widespread phenomenon than just a few officers. Utilizing the cutoff of 10 mph over the speed limit (anything above this results in a higher fine) to observe officer leniency, there was evidence of a disparity in ticketing between white and minority drivers. The share of white drivers who benefited from leniency at this cutoff was higher: 34% of tickets for white drivers are issued for nine mph over the speed limit, and this figure is only 25% for minority drivers. From this, the study estimated that the racial disparity in ticketing observed can be explained by the behavior of 42% of officers in the FHP.