Roomies, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, is not the only one making changes that will positively affect his condition for residents. In the last few weeks, he has been signing bills left and right, and politicians in Pennsylvania seem to be catching up. This week was monumental in Philadelphia, as the bill went into effect de-escalating problems between divers and law enforcement during a traffic stop, making Philadelphia the first major city to issue such a bill of its kind!
According to ABC 6, the Philadelphia City Council passed the Driving Equality Act on Thursday. The bill will change the way the police stop traffic with one main goal, closing racial inequalities. Reports say that Philly is a city where people of color are 3.4 times more likely to be withdrawn than whites.
The Driving Equality Bill will prohibit employees from withdrawing drivers for minor traffic violations ranging from broken taillights to expired registration. These crimes are usually used as a pretext for stopping traffic and searching vehicles. The report states that these “pretext” stops are used disproportionately against black and Latin American drivers, leading to excessive fees and additional distrust of the police, according to experts.
Participants, such as Council member Isaiah Thomas, who drafted the bill, hope it will fight racial profiling due to incidents it has witnessed and those that have affected it personally in the city of brotherly love. Council member Thomas said: “Engaging by law enforcement is a ritual for black men. This is something we all know we will have to go through. “He went on to say that he had been stopped so many times that he had lost his number.
With such an incredible bill, which the City Council voted 14-2, the only thing left to do is get Mayor Kenny’s signature to get the Driving Equality Bill into law. Rooms, we will keep you posted when more information becomes available.
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