Ramsey County officials are touting the success of a new approach to traffic stops.
County Attorney John Choi told Vineeta Sawkar on the WCCO Morning News they've dramatically reduced the number of stops for non public safety-related reasons, like expired tabs or tinted windows.
"Sometimes the belief is that this will yield drugs or weapons," says Choi. "But the truth is, in fact we have the Ramsey County data because we pulled the research, it's less than two percent of the instances."
Choi says instead, deputies are focusing more on moving violations like speeding that actually affect public safety. He says the new system also helps with building trust in the community.
Not only are they not pulling as many drivers over, there has been extra effort in Ramsey County to help people who have expired tabs.
"Now we also have alternatives where, instead of pulling somebody over, we can send a notice to somebody, and actually get somebody a coupon or assistance to paying back their tabs," explains Choi. "So, there's been a lot of work in this effort to change. And I think it's making an impact in our community."
Choi adds that the decrease in traffic stops has not led to more crime and it decreases the racial disparity in low-level or pretextual stops by police.