In September 2013, the BJS published a report that found that overall, 10.2 percent of all U.S. drivers were stopped by police in 2011. However, the percentages varied depending on the race and ethnicity of the driver — 12.8 percent of all black or African-American drivers were stopped that year, compared with 10.4 percent of Hispanic or Latino drivers and 9.8 percent of white drivers.These differences are undoubtedly statistically significant because of the large number of observations involved. Practical significance is another matter.
Of 100 black drivers, three more are stopped per year than among a like number of white drivers. In a 50 year driving life, an average black driver would be stopped 6.4 times, an average Hispanic driver 5.2 times, and an average white driver would be stopped 4.9 times.
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Can we all agree that, regardless of race, teenage boys are more likely to get into trouble than adults? I remember the police paying extra attention to me as a teenage driver, and I remember resenting it.
Even at the time I realized it was rational police behavior as I was a member of a demographic with an increased propensity to misbehavior. Members of such groups are likely to resent the increased police attention and surveillance they receive.
It is, however, entirely rational police behavior. To demand or expect anything else is to demand the police act irrationally.
