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2003 SESSION

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SB 280 Racial Profiling and Traffic Statistics Reporting Act.

Introduced by: Henry L. Marsh III | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Virginia Racial Profiling and Traffic Statistics Reporting Act. Requires the Superintendent of State Police to require each local and state police officer, during the course of his official duties, to collect certain information pertaining to traffic stops, including the race, ethnicity, color, age and gender of the alleged traffic offender, and to record the specific reason for the stop, whether the person was interrogated, charged or arrested, and whether a written citation or warning was issued. Police officers must also indicate the specific traffic violation committed. Police officers participating in the collection of such traffic data and information have been granted civil immunity for acts and omissions during the performance of their official duties, absent gross negligence or willful misconduct. The bill also requires the development of a statewide database for collecting, correlating, analyzing, interpreting, and reporting data and information generated through such traffic stop reports. The Superintendent may engage any accredited public institution of higher education in the Commonwealth or an independent body with the experience, expertise, and technical capacity to conduct such research to assist in designing the database, and the collection, analysis, and interpretation of the data. The Superintendent must report the findings and recommendations annually to the Governor, the General Assembly, Attorney General and provide copies to each attorney for the Commonwealth. This act expires on July 1, 2006. Previously, this bill was a recommendation of the Joint Subcommittee Studying the Status and Needs of African American Males in the Commonwealth and the House Committee on Transportation's Special Subcommittee on Racial Profiling and Pretextual Traffic Stops.


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