Sandbox

Background

1. Nine Charts About Wealth Inequality in America (2017) [1]
2. Traffic Safety Facts: Race and Ethnicity, DOT HS 810 995 (2009) [2]
3. Stanford Open Policing Project, Findings [3]

Presentations

For the first hour of our class, each student will briefly introduce a specific topic related to law enforcement in transportation:

1. Select one of the topics below by visiting [DOODLE LINK HERE].
2. Prepare a three-minute presentation that (1) explains the topic, (2) identifies potential issues of racial justice, (3) highlights key questions for discussion, reflection, and further inquiry, and (4) cites sources.
3. If you will be in class: Give your presentation. You may not exceed three minutes!
4. If you will not be in class: Record your presentation and share it with the class no later than Sunday at 9pm.

The topics are:

1. "Walking while black"
2. Stop-and-frisk
3. Traffic fines as a revenue source
4. Pretextual vehicle stops
5. Equipment, insurance, and license violations
6. Disparities in vehicle stops
7. Disparities in vehicle searches
8. Canine sniffs following stops
9. Consent searches following stops
10. Civil asset forfeiture following stops
11. Use of force in traffic stops
12. Checkpoints/roadblocks
13. Enforcement activities in commercial bus travel
14. Transit policing
15. Aviation security screenings
16. International border crossings
17. "100-mile border zone"

Discussion

For the second half of our class, we will join Professor Seth Stoughton's criminal procedure class for a joint discussion of racial discrimination in traffic enforcement. Come prepared to ask questions, identify issues, and participate fully in discussions of both traffic enforcement generally and your selected topic specifically.