Assessing the Affect of Traffic Stops on Calling the Police

• In Event: Encountering the Police: Studying Latin@ and Black Peoples' Experiences, Interactions, and Perceptions

Abstract

Traffic stops are the most common reason for face-to-face encounters between police officers and citizens. Many researchers find that previous contact with police can have an impact on citizens’ behavior toward the police, particularly when citizens perceive that the police did not treat them fairly during these encounters. Yet, few studies have examined how experiencing a traffic stop might affect the likelihood that citizens will contact police to report non-crime emergencies or to ask for assistance. Using data from the 2011 Police-Public Contact Survey (PPCS), I examined the relationship between experiencing a traffic stop and calling police for help or reporting non-crime emergencies. Findings indicate that there is a significant negative association between traffic stops and both types of citizens calls (i.e., for assistance and to report non-crime emergencies). Moreover, relative to Whites, Blacks and Hispanics are less likely to call police for assistance. Policy implications of the results are discussed and recommendations for future research are provided.

Author

• Joselyne Chenane, University of Nebraska at Omaha