- North Las Vegas will pay $1.2M to settle a deaf driver arrest.
- Officers allegedly ignored requests for written notes.
- Department now requires deaf-sensitivity training yearly.
Police are a major force on public roads. They influence how drivers behave, and they often evoke strong feelings in those around them. Now, a viral video that came out in 2021 featuring a deaf driver detained by police has led to a seven-figure payout. North Las Vegas just settled a case for $1.2 million, and officers there now have a new policy to abide by.
Last week, the North Las Vegas City Council approved the settlement with Andrea Hollingsworth and her family, closing out a civil rights case stemming from a 2021 encounter that Comadvocates say highlights how easily police interactions can escalate when basic communication breaks down.
Hollingsworth, who is deaf and communicates primarily through American Sign Language, wasn’t even driving at the time. Instead, she was sitting in a car with her 11-year-old twin daughters on April 7, 2021, waiting for a friend when officers approached to investigate a harassment complaint…