This mandate eliminates police asking the common phrase, ‘Do you know why I pulled you over?’
The new law aims to curb situations where minor traffic violations are used as a pretext for investigating other potential offenses. This requirement forces officers to document the stop and communicate the reason to the driver upfront, eliminating the common phrase, “Do you know why I pulled you over?”
While the law is seen as a step toward accountability, some critics argue that it may not be a significant game-changer. Community activist Berry Accius acknowledges the law’s impact but expresses concerns about its effectiveness, stating, “Tiny steps in the right direction, but what is the direction? Because there are too many gray areas. How am I going to be able to dispute that this officer was pulling me over illegally?”
The legislation makes an exception, allowing California police to withhold the reason for a stop if it is deemed necessary to protect life or property from an imminent threat.
Community activist Accius points out that while the law addresses a part of the issue, there is still room for bias during traffic stops, emphasizing the need for more specific laws to tackle this concern.
Sacramento area law enforcement agencies claim they have already incorporated the law into their training. A spokesperson from the Sacramento Police Department stated, “We believe in providing great customer service, and that is why we have implemented this into our academy and department training.”
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Source: Black Enterprise
