It may be a burden at first, but mandatory collection of racial data on traffic stops is necessary to end racial profiling in this state.

Thursday, February 15, 2001

It may be a burden at first, but mandatory collection of racial data on traffic stops is necessary to end racial profiling in this state.

Public Safety Commissioner Charlie Weaver indicated the department may not back the state directive that would require all Minnesota officers to gather information on the people they stop.

However, scrapping the idea would be a mistake.

In St. Paul, where Chief William Finney has voluntarily had his officers collect information, found that six of his officers stopped blacks almost exclusively. Those officers were reprimanded for their unprofessional behavior. Had the officers not been obligated to collect the data, it’s possible a problem would not have been detected.

Racial profiling extends beyond the Twin Cities. Throughout Minnesota, individuals are stopped based on the race, age or gender, and it simply is not fair.

Yes, there is an extensive price tag attached to this project – $1 million – but isn’t justice for all worth at least that much?