Traffic stop policy in Ramsey County, MN

By Rory Pulvino, Jess Sorensen, JJ Naddeo, and Jared Fishman

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Glossary

  • disproportionality - A difference in number: an over-representation of one group relative to the general population, for example where Black individuals make up a majority of defendants, but are a minority in the population.
  • disparity - A difference in treatment: where like cases are treated differently or where the impact of decisions affect one group more than another.
  • charged - Formally accused of committing a crime by a governmental authority.
  • charge - The crime, defined by law, of which a person is accused. An arrest charge is determined by the arresting agency, such as a police department. A charge may change during the criminal legal process; therefore, the arrest charge may differ from the filed charge (determined by the prosecuting authority) or the disposition charge (final charge of record when the case is resolved).
  • case - A single charge, or multiple charges, covering all crimes of which a person is accused, stemming from a single incident.
  • non-public-safety traffic stop - When a law enforcement officer pulls over a driver based on an issue that does not pose an imminent danger to the public, such as an expired vehicle registration, obstructed rear-view mirror, or noisy muffler.
  • pretextual traffic stop - A non-public-safety traffic stop where the law enforcement officer has specific intent to seek evidence of a crime unrelated to the reason for the stop.
  • contraband - Any item that is illegal to possess, such as certain drugs or firearms.
  • search - When a law enforcement officer looks for contraband on a person or in their vehicle.
  • vehicle equipment violation - An infraction related to the condition of a motor vehicle where there is no imminent danger to the public, such as an expired vehicle registration, obstructed rear-view mirror, or noisy muffler.
  • moving violation - A traffic violation related to the driving of a motor vehicle, such as speeding or reckless driving.
  • investigative stop - When a vehicle is stopped by a law enforcement officer based on suspicion of involvement with a reported crime.
  • per capita - Per unit of population.