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FACT BRIEF

Is there evidence of racial disparities in traffic stops in Florida?

By EconoFact
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YES

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.

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Sources
American Economic Association A Few Bad Apples? Racial Bias in Policing
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EconoFact is a non-partisan publication designed to bring key facts and incisive analysis to the national debate on economic and social policies. Launched in January 2017, it is written by leading academic economists from across the country who belong to the EconoFact Network. It is published by the Edward R. Murrow Center for a Digital World at The Fletcher School at Tufts University.
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