We Must End Non-Safety Traffic Stops

In Houston and the surrounding area, data shows Black and Brown (Hispanic/Latino) drivers are stopped by police at higher rates than white drivers, often disproportionate to their share of the population. Here’s what the most recent data and analyses say:  
Traffic Stop Rates (Recent Data)
Houston Police Department & area agencies (2023 data):

• Black drivers made up about 34% of all traffic stops, despite being only about 20–23% of the population in Houston/Harris County.
• Hispanic drivers accounted for around 31–32% of stops, also higher relative to some population shares.
• White drivers were stopped at rates closer to or below their share of the population (about 30% of stops).  

Disparities Compared to Population Share

• In non-moving traffic violations specifically (e.g., expired tags, equipment issues), Black drivers were ~42% of stops even though they are ~23% of Houston’s population. Hispanic drivers were ~31%, and white drivers ~25% in those categories.  
• In some analyses, Black drivers were reported to be pulled over three times more often than white drivers for certain types of stops and searched at higher rates, and are also disproportionately subject to arrests and use-of-force outcomes during stops.  

Searches & Outcomes

• Black drivers were disproportionately represented in vehicle searches during stops — making up ~50% of searches even though they are a smaller share of the population, and over 60% of searches based on probable cause in one dataset.  
• A significant share of those searches didn’t result in contraband being found (about two-thirds turned up nothing).  

Context and Interpretation
These disparities do not automatically prove unlawful motives, and there are many potential contributing factors (location of patrols, driving patterns, crime rates, local policies, etc.). However, the statistical evidence does show that Black and Hispanic drivers are stopped and searched more often than white drivers relative to their share of the population in Houston.
According to the data, non-safety traffic stops function as a predatory enforcement practice. They are routinely used to cycle Black and Brown people in and out of the criminal legal system through citations, fines, warrants, arrests, and jail stays—often for conduct unrelated to public safety. These stops also serve as a primary pipeline for the surveillance, detention, and deportation of Brown immigrant communities.
Rather than improving safety, non-safety traffic stops deepen racial disparities, destabilize families, and erode trust between law enforcement and communities of color. The data shows they rarely prevent violent crime, yet they disproportionately expose marginalized communities to punishment and state control.
If Houston is serious about becoming safer—and about restoring trust with Black, Brown, immigrant, and poor communities—then non-safety traffic stops must end. Public safety should be rooted in harm prevention, accountability, and community investment, not predatory policing practices that criminalize poverty and identity.

Written By: RoShawn C. Evans


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