Black motorists were stopped by Austin police at a disproportionate rate last year and also were subjected to a higher percentage of searches, according to new report released by the city on Monday.
A racial breakdown of the 139,000 traffic stops made last year showed that although Black people represented less than 8% of the city’s population, they accounted for 14% of stops and 25% of searches that resulted from a stop.
The percentage of traffic stops involving Black drivers dropped 1 percentage point from 2018, when they made up 15% of stops.
The report was co-published by the city’ sOffice of Police Oversight, Office of Innovation, and Equity Office. Representatives from those groups delivered their findings to the Austin City Council’s Public Safety Committee.
Black motorists were the most overrepresented race in Monday’s report, with a 6% greater difference in traffic stops than population. Hispanics had a 2% difference.
White motorists were the most underrepresented race, accounting for 47% of stops and 53% of the population — a difference of 6%. Asians were underrepresented by 3%.
The report drew from 2010 census data instead of more recent population estimates that are susceptible to error. The total adult population for Austin in 2010 was about 615,000.
At Monday’s meeting, Office of Police Oversight director Farah Muscadin noted that although she finds the disparities concerning, racial disparities in traffic stops are common across the country, and not just Austin.
“This is not unique to Austin at all,” she said.
In total, Black drivers were stopped 19,520 times last year. Once pulled over, they were three times more likely to be searched than white drivers. Black people also represented one-fourth of all traffic stops that led to an arrest, according to the report.
The report laid out recommendations for eliminating disparities, beginning with an acknowledgment from Austin Police Department’s leadership that efforts they have taken thus far have not worked.
Police Chief Brian Manley was present at the meeting and indicated that the small improvement from last year might be tied to an emphasis on training focused on racial biases.
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