STUDIES:   

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“The productivity of searches of Black drivers is lower than that of white drivers for all three hit rates… of particular interest, given racial stereotypes on drug trafficking, the white arrest-worthy hit rate is 25.6% compared to 19.7% for Black drivers."

Trends in Racial Disparities in Traffic Stops: Vermont State Police, 2010–19 Trends in Racial Disparities in Traffic Stops: Vermont State Police, 2010–19 Table 5 reports the results of the probability of contraband being found for searches for any outcome of the stop and search (that is, in which the result was a warning, a citation, or an arrest) for all years for which we have data. The results shown for Model 1, where the only explanatory variable is race of the driver, indicate that the odds of a search of a Black driver yielding contraband are about 40% less than the odds a white driver will be found with contraband subsequent to a search. The difference is statistically significant. Table 5 reports the results of the probability of contraband being found for searches for any outcome of the stop and search (that is, in which the result was a warning, a citation, or an arrest) for all years for which we have data. The results shown for Model 1, where the only explanatory variable is race of the driver, indicate that the odds of a search of a Black driver yielding contraband are about 40% less than the odds a white driver will be found with contraband subsequent to a search. The difference is statistically significant. Figure 3 plots the ratio of Black to white stop rates and Asian to white stop rates. The Blackwhite ratio was 1.11 in 2011, meaning that Black drivers were stopped a rate that was about 11% greater than white drivers in year. The Black/white ratio has risen over time to 1.72 in 2019. That is, by 2019, the Black stop rate was more than 70% greater than the white rate. The Asian stop rate was roughly half the white rate in 2011, and by 2019, the Asian rate is slightly higher than the white rate. Figure 3 plots the ratio of Black to white stop rates and Asian to white stop rates. The Blackwhite ratio was 1.11 in 2011, meaning that Black drivers were stopped a rate that was about 11% greater than white drivers in year. The Black/white ratio has risen over time to 1.72 in 2019. That is, by 2019, the Black stop rate was more than 70% greater than the white rate. The Asian stop rate was roughly half the white rate in 2011, and by 2019, the Asian rate is slightly higher than the white rate.
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