CHICAGO (CBS) — Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx is exploring a new policy that would direct prosecutors to reject gun and drug charges stemming from some traffic stops.
Under a draft policy that is still under consideration, prosecutors would not file drug, gun, and theft charges in cases that begin with minor traffic stops such as broken tail lights or having an expired vehicle registration.
Foxx said the policy is meant to end pretextual traffic stops that disproportionately target people of color, and rarely end in an arrest.
“In fact, data reveals that only 1 in 1,000 of these stops result in the discovery of a gun. More importantly, the psychological and emotional toll these stops inflict, particularly on Black and Brown drivers, is immeasurable and undermines the trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve,” Foxx said in a statement on the draft policy.