Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – The pandemic brought the numbers down somewhat, but they have still been disproportionate over the last 20 years.

The ACLU of Illinois and the Springfield chapter both say even in a pandemic year which skewed figures, Springfield Police and the Sangamon County Sheriffs Department have pulled black drivers over more than any other race in the last 20 years, even if the stops were, at times, unfounded.

“Sometimes, people will say traffic stops are for safety reasons,” said Ken Page, Springfield chapter president.  “There’s no proven link in Springfield, Sangamon County, or elsewhere across Illinois, that increasing the number of traffic stops enhances public safety.”

Page spoke to the Massey Commission‘s monthly meeting Monday night.  The meeting, for the first time, was held on Springfield’s east side, at the Salvation Army Clear Lake Corps.  Page says the data is based on figures acquired by the ACLU from the Illinois Department of Transportation, and are similar in other parts of Illinois.

That may not be a surprise to some, but when it comes to a vehicle search done with consent during the traffic stop, the figures are more concerning.

“The number of searches for white folks (in 2023) was 62 — and I presume this is a flat number,” said Susan Phillips, commission member.  “The number of searches for black drivers was 1,077.  That’s, like, 18 times as many searches.  That doesn’t take into consideration the disparate numbers for percent, for population.”

However, Phillips’ own math suggested that means black drivers are 86 times more likely to be searched throughout the county.

The data, the ACLU says, doesn’t even to take into consideration traffic stops conducted by Springfield Park Police, Capitol Police, Illinois State Police, or by any police force in any of the “donut hole” communities like Southern View or others.

But, Springfield Police is taking some steps to right those traffic stop wrongs, including attempts to make sure drivers aren’t pulled over multiple times for the same reason.

“They are launching a program to deal with equipment violations,” said Ed Yohnka, ACLU of Illinois.  A recent television station report suggested it will be a repair voucher program — for things like broken license plate lights, tail lights, and headlights, among others, similar to a program done in the past.

“It’s an idea…making sure we don’t have people stopped for repeat violations.  The interference in your life of being stopped repeatedly is sort of where this gets to be the worst,” said Yohnka.

In the meantime, Page says the public must insist on having police department explain their data, and their rationale, and hold public meetings to that end.  Other commission members suggested things that immigrants are being urged to remember right now:  know your rights.

An open house will be held in the coming weeks at Springfield Police headquarters.