Connecticut Minorities More Likely to Get Traffic Tickets

A new analysis shows black and Hispanic drivers in Connecticut get traffic tickets at a much higher rate than white motorists when pulled over for the same offense.

The Hartford Courant reports that it reviewed more than 100,000 traffic stops by dozens of local police departments in 2011 and found racial disparities.

The review, for example, found that among nearly 4,000 traffic stops for display or use of license plates, police gave citations to 13 percent of whites compared with 27 percent of blacks and 36 percent of Hispanics.

The newspaper found Hispanics were more likely than both whites and blacks to be ticketed in each of 13 categories.

State lawmakers are being urged to strengthen Connecticut’s law against racial profiling.