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[unpopularblargh]

Video: https://youtu.be/AjXWjtkrFUk

A new report from Seton Hall Law School Center for Policy & Research has found that in the majority-white municipality of Bloomfield, New Jersey, nearly 80 percent of traffic tickets are issued to African American and Latino drivers.

The report also found that most tickets were issued to non-resident minority drivers passing through town, suggesting a "de facto border patrol" policing policy is in effect.

The Bloomfield Police Department — which has begun collecting data on the race of drivers in traffic stops as of January 2016 — rejects the report's findings.

VICE News reports on Seton Hall's methodology and on the experience of minority drivers in Bloomfield.

Please note that in this video, Lakisha Finkelstein's name was misspelled as Latisha Finkelstein.

Read the report, "Racial Profiling Report: Bloomfield Police and Bloomfield Municipal Court” - http://bit.ly/20vowHc

Read "NYPD Cops Who Arrested Black Mailman Have History of Alleged Civil Rights Violations” - http://bit.ly/1S144IG

Findings from the report:

African Americans and Latinos accounted for an astounding 78% of the individuals observed appearing in Bloomfield Municipal Court for traffic tickets (n=799) — 43% African American, 35% Latino, 20% white, and 2% other. This is in inverse proportion to the demographics of Bloomfield, which is roughly 60% white, 18.5% African American, and 24.5% Latino.

Remarkably, this racial disproportion was found not only across the board but in various subgroupings – including Bloomfield itself, whose African American and Latino residents accounted for 73% of Bloomfield residents observed before the court, as compared with only 24% white. Similarly, a racial disproportion in ticketing also existed across the five predominantly white border towns. Although the numbers are small (n=39), 64% of those ticketed with residences in the predominantly white border towns were African American or Latino, while only 33% were white.

In looking for targeted areas, the database showed that an overwhelming majority of tickets were issued in the southernmost third of Bloomfield, which borders on Newark and East Orange, cities with large populations of minorities: Newark is 26.3% white, 52.3% African American and 33.8% Latino; East Orange is 4% white, 88.5% African American and 7.9% Latino. The triangle of Bloomfield that juts into Newark and East Orange alone accounted for more than 50% of the tickets issued in the lower third of Bloomfield.

With African Americans and Latinos accounting for 78% of observed court appearances, such individuals were cited 7,566 times during the year of the study. At an average cost of $137 apiece, not counting surcharges, the total paid by African Americans and Latinos would amount to more than $1 million in revenue for Bloomfield.

Residents of Newark and East Orange, who were observed to have received 29% of all tickets issued in Bloomfield, would account for $400,000 in revenue to the Township.

Bloomfield Municipal Court’s budgeted salaries were projected to have more than doubled in 2015, from $350,600 in 2014 to an estimated $760,794 in 2015. In 2014, Bloomfield received $1,116,081.00 in traffic court revenue; from July 2015 to September 2015, Bloomfield’s moving violation ticket revenue was up 138%.

“Our study revealed what essentially amounts to a 'wall' of police action erected against the Newark and East Orange border areas and their predominantly African American and Latino residents,” noted report co-author and Seton Hall Law student Jason Castle '18. “As an African American I wasn’t shocked, but I was disheartened to see the numbers in black and white; as a law student, I was dismayed to see the law being used as a weapon against the people; and as a Councilman from nearby Teaneck, NJ, I was appalled when I researched and compiled the budget, ticket revenue and salary projections for the Township of Bloomfield. Those numbers told a story that I wished I’d never heard.”

Professor Denbeaux has been active in civil rights and human rights issues throughout his career. “Racial discrimination used to be obvious and life-threatening – ‘the wolf at the door,’” Professor Denbeaux observed. “It sometimes still is, but now it’s more often insidious and corrosive, eating away at both the dignity and quality of life of people of color – it’s the ‘termites in the floor.’"

“When a black man is stopped by the police, both he and the cop know that anything the cop writes on a ticket, or claims to be true, will be upheld by a Traffic Court judge,” Professor Denbeaux concluded. “When that happens repeatedly over a protracted period of time, it takes a toll that you can’t measure in dollars.”

 

[Black Republican]

Nice money making scheme

 

[Slayven]

Maybe blacks and Latino are just committing the vast, overwhelming amount of traffic violations?

 

[Miles Quaritch]

It looks bad, but there's nothing to suggest that it's targeted. Maybe black and latino people just drive more recklessly?

I think we should wait until we have a better picture of what driving violations were issued. The report really doesn't delve deep enough into the detail.

 

[NumberTwo]

Maybe blacks and Latino are just committing the vast, overwhelming amount of traffic violations?

It looks bad, but there's nothing to suggest that it's targeted. Maybe black and latino people just drive more recklessly?

I think we should wait until we have a better picture of what driving violations were issued. The report really doesn't delve deep enough into the detail.

Oh, you guys.

 

[dh4niel]

Wow. Making people plead guilty on charges that are completely false as they know they can't pay court fees is disgusting.

 

[Hjod]

It looks bad, but there's nothing to suggest that it's targeted. Maybe black and latino people just drive more recklessly?

I think we should wait until we have a better picture of what driving violations were issued. The report really doesn't delve deep enough into the detail.

You almost had me there for a second.

Will give this a watch when I get home.

 

[unpopularblargh]

Professor Denbeaux has been active in civil rights and human rights issues throughout his career. “Racial discrimination used to be obvious and life-threatening – ‘the wolf at the door,’” Professor Denbeaux observed. “It sometimes still is, but now it’s more often insidious and corrosive, eating away at both the dignity and quality of life of people of color – it’s the ‘termites in the floor.’"

“When a black man is stopped by the police, both he and the cop know that anything the cop writes on a ticket, or claims to be true, will be upheld by a Traffic Court judge,” Professor Denbeaux concluded. “When that happens repeatedly over a protracted period of time, it takes a toll that you can’t measure in dollars.”

I've updated the OP with the findings from the report.

 

[Aztechnology]

Maybe blacks and Latino are just committing the vast, overwhelming amount of traffic violations?

It looks bad, but there's nothing to suggest that it's targeted. Maybe black and latino people just drive more recklessly?

I think we should wait until we have a better picture of what driving violations were issued. The report really doesn't delve deep enough into the detail.

If I didn't know you guys.

 

[old manatee]

Everyone should have a camera in their car now. police shouldn't be able to itch their assholes without someone popping out the toilet tank with a digital camera.

 

[FyreWulff]

It's an open knowledge that our super white bread suburbs near us do this. Not only do they harp on people with tickets in general to scare them away from driving through or being there, but they pretty much have an outright Existing While Black ticket they write. It's so fucking infuriating and they get away with it.

 

[Skellig Gra]

Stats could be a little misleading because Newark is majority black/Hispanic and cops tend to let off people in their own town from tickets. However I know for a fact that DWB stops happen all the time. Would be interesting to see stats for towns farther away from places like Newark where minorities are less likely to frequently drive through.

 

[Aztechnology]

It's an open knowledge that our super white bread suburbs near us do this. Not only do they harp on people with tickets in general to scare them away from driving through or being there, but they pretty much have an outright Existing While Black ticket they write. It's so fucking infuriating and they get away with it.

I'm sure the people who are getting tickets are in fact going over the speed limit etc. The issue is the white people seem to be completely ignored even if they are as well (From my experience where I live). TBH cops should issue a lot more tickets than they do in most places. I know so many people who speed constantly like complete fucking imbeciles because they never get in trouble.

My buddy got pulled over in Texas going 13 over. (63 in a 50) and the cop just let him off with a warning. Like seriously? He makes a lot too, so he was joking about how he was about to say "Just give me the ticket, I got places to be." Not his finest moment.

 

[kess]

New Jersey police have always had a reputation, and that goes a long way back. I once found an article in a newspaper back in the 1970s where some guy with long hair was beaten and referred his case to the ACLU. The judge threw the case out.

The police will, and can ticket people for just about anything. The paper thin separation between the judiciary and police forces, most of which are housed under the same roof, doesn't help matters.

 

[MindGamingMantis]

Bloomfield is right next to a dominant black neighborhood in North Newark. It makes sense that there would be a lot of tickets issued to black people.

 

[FyreWulff]

I'm sure the people who are getting tickets are in fact going over the speed limit etc. The issue is the white people seem to be completely ignored even if they are as well (From my experience where I live). TBH cops should issue a lot more tickets than they do in most places. I know so many people who speed constantly like complete fucking imbeciles because they never get in trouble.

My buddy got pulled over in Texas going 13 over. (63 in a 50) and the cop just let him off with a warning. Like seriously? He makes a lot too, so he was joking about how he was about to say "Just give me the ticket, I got places to be." Not his finest moment.

It's not for speeding, most of them are bullshit 'the light on the back looks a bit off" tickets where they're camping right before the city border to nail people. Red light cameras are illegal in Nebraska so they don't have those as a source of income, so they go after people from out of town. Iowa, right across the border, has a ton of super sensitive red light cameras, all put on the main roads from Nebraska and nowhere else, and it's blatant as fuck. And Council Bluffs is lovingly called Counciltucky, they would probably have their city flag as the Confederate Flag if they could.

You'll see a bunch of old white dudes drinking on their porch in the burb cities, meanwhile suburb copfuck arrested a family friend for public consumption of alcohol... because he was taking the beer from his friends house to his car, CLOSED, while black, two fucking blocks from the Omaha city limits. This is basically something nobody gets arrested or ticketed for otherwise. His dad's response was "I told you not to go that city".

 

[elrechazado]

I live near a state border on a major interstate. Cop priority here for tickets:
1. Out of state license plate, minority driver
2. In state license plate, minority driver
3. Out of state license plate white driver
.
.
.
99. In state license plate, white driver.

Makin that money

 

[Vicetrailia]

One of the first things I noticed when I went up there recently.

 

[Aztechnology]

It's not for speeding, most of them are bullshit 'the light on the back looks a bit off" tickets where they're camping right before the city border to nail people. Red light cameras are illegal in Nebraska so they don't have those as a source of income, so they go after people from out of town. Iowa, right across the border, has a ton of super sensitive red light cameras, all put on the main roads from Nebraska and nowhere else, and it's blatant as fuck. And Council Bluffs is lovingly called Counciltucky, they would probably have their city flag as the Confederate Flag if they could.

You'll see a bunch of old white dudes drinking on their porch in the burb cities, meanwhile suburb copfuck arrested a family friend for public consumption of alcohol... because he was taking the beer from his friends house to his car, CLOSED, while black, two fucking blocks from the Omaha city limits. This is basically something nobody gets arrested or ticketed for otherwise. His dad's response was "I told you not to go that city".

I believe it, and that's fucked. I just meant in context to moving violations.

You know what though, even many of those can easily be falsely doled out by police. It's your word against theirs. Although 90% of the time if you take them to traffic court it gets waived. Assuming you can be there, which is unlikely.

This is one of many reason cops need to have footage of the suspects at all times. So it can be judged objectively.

 

[Nightbird]

I liked how the Officer became more and more uncomfortable when being asked

 

[bodyboarder]

I liked how the Officer became more and more uncomfortable when being asked

Not used to being called out.

 

[entremet]

Not surprised as a tristate area resident.

I think this is were minorities get annoyed. Post racial society my ass.

 

[krazen]

Bloomfield is right next to a dominant black neighborhood in North Newark. It makes sense that there would be a lot of tickets issued to black people.

Ehh, white people don't drive? While you expect a larger amount of tickets given to minorities because of the neighborhood population...over 80% is a real hard number to consistantly pull at 'random' considering everyone in the immediate area isn't a minority

 

[Sho_Nuff82]

I grew up in Orange, this story covers half of my old stomping grounds. You have to wonder if these directives are coming from the police to "protect" the white populace/ exploit the minority populace, or if the townsfolk themselves are insisting on it?

 

[Aztechnology]

I just finished the video. I just... I have no words. Exposure, exposure and accountability are needed, that's all I have to say. Between the video and the comments, I just can't deal.

 

[Walpurgis]

New Jersey remains a dump, I see.

 

[kirblar]

Another recent study found that minority driving arrests go down 15% at night. Came up on twitter but didn't think to save the link.

I grew up in Orange, this story covers half of my old stomping grounds. You have to wonder if these directives are coming from the police to "protect" the white populace/ exploit the minority populace, or if the townsfolk themselves are insisting on it?

Ferguson would indicate this stuff isn't an accident w/ the behavior of elected officials.

 

[Draxal]

I grew up in Orange, this story covers half of my old stomping grounds. You have to wonder if these directives are coming from the police to "protect" the white populace/ exploit the minority populace, or if the townsfolk themselves are insisting on it?

Both, one of my co-workers had his Carlton moment in Belleville (town east of Bloomfield), as cops were called on them as they were checking on the neighborhood.

But the last paragraph in the OP is also very true.

 

[ShadowSwordmaster]

America remains a dump, I see.

Change that for you.

 

[Cidd]

New Jersey remains a dump, I see.

It's the same in almost every state with minorities this isn't a Jersey thing.

 

[kirblar]

It's the same in almost every state with minorities this isn't a Jersey thing.

IIRC, the issue tends to surround predominantly black communities, with it not being nearly as bad in an area where everything's pretty integrated. (this also tends to mean everyone has money and access to lawyers.)

It's what leads to the "Carlton moment", due to the radical differences in environment.

 

[Angelus Errare]

Imagine how bad it would be if we weren't a post racial utopia of equality.

 

[Cidd]

Imagine how bad it would be if we weren't a post racial utopia of equality.

God bless America.

 

[The Maverick]

Life as a minority in America. I've gotta give that video a watch too.

 

[Link]

Hilarious that people can still deny the massive systemic racism that exists within police departments all across the US. This isn't just a few bad apples; the entire orchard is rotten and needs to be burned down.

Maybe blacks and Latino are just committing the vast, overwhelming amount of traffic violations?

Sadly, this is what many people will choose to believe.

 

[malfcn]

How does "driving while _________" work? I can't tell what skin color they are, only if they are shitty drivers.

Are officers pulling up next to them and then profiling, or are they pulling everyone over and disproportionately ticketing minorities and letting the white man slide?

Honestly curious.

 

[robochimp]

One of the first things Scott Walker did after being elected governor in WI was sign a bill repealing a requirement that police record age, zip code and race for all police stops to stop this kind of study from ever happening in WI.

 

[David Ricardo]

I think we are missing half the experiment. They should have put a couple white guys in the same car, with the same clothes, etc.., and watch what happens. How can you conclude they were stopped for being black without doing the same experiment with everything the same but being the occupants white?

Maybe they stopped them for using an old car, dressing with hoods, etc...

I am sure there are cases of racial discrimination in America. Like millions every year. But I don't see any proof in that video.

 

[Yaboosh]

How does "driving while _________" work? I can't tell what skin color they are, only if they are shitty drivers.

Are officers pulling up next to them and then profiling, or are they pulling everyone over and disproportionately ticketing minorities and letting the white man slide?

Honestly curious.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L104LViQeIw

 

[ant1532]

At the 12 minute mark the Police director gets fucking stomped.

 

[theignoramus]

I watched this a few days ago. Seems like some Ferguson style fuckery with police getting revenue off the demographics least likely to fight back.
The cops put out stats that supposedly refute the academic study though, so Id like to see a follow up to conclusively prove the cops are up to fuckery.
The thought of being taxed for your skin pigmentation+ low class status is pretty outrageous though.

 

[bob_arctor]

Holy Shit. I live in Bloomfield. My Pops came to visit me one day from the Bx, caught a $500 ticket on some obscure garbage--while in traffic!--fought it and lost of course. It all makes sense now.

 

[Damerman]

I grew up in Orange, this story covers half of my old stomping grounds. You have to wonder if these directives are coming from the police to "protect" the white populace/ exploit the minority populace, or if the townsfolk themselves are insisting on it?

holy crap, are you me? I actually live in maplewood. even though it goes without saying; This ^

 

[Damerman]

New Jersey remains a dump, I see.

why you gotta take it there.

 

[Malleymal]

I have been pulled over many times in white areas while driving black and have been fortunate enough to only get one ticket. I was always taught to be overly polite and that has worked. The one time I actually got a ticket, my boy in the passenger side went crazy on a cop. I still get pissed off when I see these statistics but I always try to keep the odds in my favor when I am targeted for a quick money grab.

 

[hokahey]

Extremely fair and well presented report. It allowed for a rebuttal, considered it without bias, yet still showed a clear problem (and solution for it) without necessarily assuming racial profiling. It essentially said "ok, we'll give you the benefit of the doubt that it's not about race (despite evidence, anecdotal or otherwise) but there's still a clear problem with your policies that is creating an unfair burden against minorities. In doing so, it removes any opportunity for anyone to say "oh this is just playing the race card." Well done Vice. Well done.

 

[Aztechnology]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=se4aXahuGrw

 

[Walpurgis]

Change that for you.

It's the same in almost every state with minorities this isn't a Jersey thing.

It was an inside joke (just for me).

See this in an unrelated thread:

New York remains a dump, I see.

I am well aware of America's suckiness. 😋

 

[gdt]

Jesus that's insane.

I grew up there! Passed through Bloomfield all the time to get to Montclair NJ from Newark Nj. Not to mention I lived on the border between Newark and Bloomfield.

 

[Battersea Power Station]

Nice money making scheme

Not really -- since they're in a white majority town, they're limiting their targets to a small group.

Edit: Although black people are probably less likely to get out of paying tickets so it's a higher percentage win.