99% Invisible Policing the Open Road
Aug 11, 2020
Sarah Seo, a Columbia Law School professor and author of "Policing the Open Road," dives into the intricate relationship between traffic enforcement and systemic injustice. She explores how the rise of automobile culture transformed policing, with an emphasis on the chilling case of Sandra Bland. Seo discusses the Fourth Amendment's narrow interpretations, leading to racial disparities in traffic stops. The episode also presents bold ideas for rethinking traffic enforcement, advocating for unarmed personnel and community-centered approaches to improve road safety.
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Sandra Bland Case
- Sandra Bland was pulled over in 2015 for not signaling, a common pretext for traffic stops.
- The stop escalated, leading to Bland's arrest and death, sparking outrage.
Rise of Traffic Policing
- Early traffic laws were confusing and varied widely, leading to widespread violations, especially speeding.
- This necessitated police involvement, transforming small, untrained forces into professionalized departments.
Vollmer's Opposition
- August Vollmer, considered the father of modern policing, opposed police enforcing traffic laws.
- He believed police should focus on crime-fighting, not minor infractions, fearing public backlash.
