Denver City Council members are considering writing limits on low-level traffic stops into city law, making the policy harder for future police chiefs to undo.
Why it matters: Codifying the restrictions, which have been in place since May 2024, would then require City Council approval — rather than a chief’s pen stroke — to make major changes.
What they’re saying: “It’s important we put it into ordinance … to make a statement that this is not only what our chief of police believes, but what we as a city believe,” Councilmember Paul Kashmann, who’s leading the proposal, tells Axios.
- “If we wait, I don’t know how long Chief [Ron] Thomas is going to be chief of police. I don’t know how long Mayor [Mike] Johnston’s going to be mayor of Denver,” he says.
The big picture: Existing policy tells officers to prioritize dangerous behavior — speeding, reckless driving, DUI and running red lights — over minor violations like cracked taillights and expired registration.
- Officers can still make those stops if they suspect a more serious crime, and the chief can authorize targeted enforcement campaigns, including periodic crackdowns on expired plates.
- The overall goal of the 2024 change, Thomas said at the time, was “earning and regaining” public trust and “making better use of our time.”
Between the lines: Proponents say minor, or “pretextual,” stops have long been used disproportionately to stop people of color, despite doing little to improve public safety.
- They point to research suggesting departments can reduce racial disparities without increasing crime by focusing on more dangerous driving.
By the numbers: Denver traffic stops fell roughly 50% in the four months after the policy change took effect…