New legislation in Albany is causing a stir.  It is aimed at stopping police from pulling over drivers for minor issues.  The goal?  To address racial bias in traffic stops.  This bill would prevent cops from pulling over drivers for things like broken taillights or expired license tags.  The idea is to reduce racial profiling.  But critics argue that this could lead to more serious crimes on the roads.

The bill is being pushed by state Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal.  He is running for Manhattan borough president.  He argues that minority drivers are stopped more often for minor infractions.  This, he says, is proof of a racist system.  But critics point out that this bill could make roads less safe.  They argue that enforcing minor violations helps prevent bigger crimes.  If cops can't pull over drivers for small issues, they might miss bigger problems.

Take the case of serial killer Joel Rifkin.  He was caught after being pulled over for a missing license plate.  He was moving a body to dump at the time.  This shows how minor infractions can lead to big crimes.  But the bill's supporters argue that driving without plates or with broken lights are not in themselves horrible crimes.  They say that focusing on these minor issues distracts from real racial bias.

The bill would also make it harder for cops to enforce minor infractions.  It would require them to do more paperwork.  This includes collecting racial data.  Critics say this could discourage cops from enforcing these laws.  They argue that this could lead to more reckless driving and other dangerous behavior.

The public needs to pay attention to this bill.  If it passes, it could make roads more dangerous.  It could also erode public confidence in the law.  People might feel like they are being punished for following the rules.  This could lead to more lawlessness.  It is important for the public to speak up.  They need to let their representatives know that they want safe roads.  They need to let them know that they want a fair system.  One that does not let minor infractions slide.  One that does not let killers and thugs roam free.

TRAFFIC LAWS

Driving Dangerously: The Push to Let Minor Infractions Slide

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