Driving While Black in New Jersey

VICE News2 minutes read

Bloomfield police accused of racially profiling and issuing hefty fines, with Seton Hall study revealing disproportionate ticketing of minorities in traffic stops despite police denial of racial profiling. Shift in police focus from minor traffic violations to crime suggested to ease economic burden on vulnerable communities.

Insights

  • Seton Hall law students scrutinize Bloomfield Municipal Court for targeting non-residents passing through black areas for fines, potentially engaging in race-based ticketing.
  • The suggestion to redirect police focus from minor traffic violations to crime aims to reduce the economic burden on vulnerable communities, highlighting the disproportionate impact of excessive ticketing on minorities.

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Recent questions

  • Are there allegations of racial profiling in Bloomfield?

    Yes, Bloomfield police are accused of racially profiling individuals.

  • What options do individuals have when facing fines in Bloomfield?

    Individuals can negotiate a plea or go to trial.

  • Is there a study conducted to test police attention towards black occupants in Bloomfield?

    Yes, a driving experiment was conducted.

  • What do Seton Hall law students scrutinize in Bloomfield Municipal Court?

    Seton Hall law students scrutinize fine collection practices.

  • How do police explain the high ticketing rates in Bloomfield?

    Police attribute it to crime concentration in certain areas.

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Summary

00:00

Racial Profiling in Bloomfield: Unfair Ticketing Practices

  • Bloomfield police are accused of racially profiling individuals and imposing hefty fines on them from the Municipal budget.
  • Options for individuals facing fines include negotiating a plea or going to trial, with the latter being risky due to the state court system.
  • Bloomfield Municipal Court is under scrutiny by Seton Hall law students for its fine collection practices, particularly focusing on who is targeted for fines.
  • A driving experiment is conducted to test if a vehicle with black occupants attracts police attention in Bloomfield.
  • The experiment results in the test car being pulled over twice, with one stop due to an illegal left turn.
  • The Seton Hall study reveals that most tickets in Bloomfield are issued to non-residents passing through the town's black areas.
  • The study suggests that race-based ticketing occurs in Bloomfield, leading to an unfair burden on the black and Latino communities.
  • The police director denies racial profiling, attributing the high ticketing rates to crime concentration in black and Latino-majority areas.
  • The police claim their officers do not racially profile, and new data tracking race in police work supports their stance.
  • Despite the police's explanations, the Seton Hall study findings indicate a disproportionate targeting of minorities in traffic stops in Bloomfield.

15:21

Police Prioritize Crime Over Traffic Violations

  • People in certain areas face excessive ticketing and fines due to police focus on minor traffic violations.
  • Suggestion to shift police focus towards crime rather than traffic offenses to alleviate economic strain on vulnerable communities.
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