Brownwood: "Don't Mind If I Take a Look, Do Ya?"

Race a Factor in Texas Stops
Study Finds Police More Likely to Pull Over Blacks, Latinos

By Sylvia Moreno
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, February 25, 2005; Page A03

AUSTIN, Feb. 24 -- A study commissioned by minority advocacy groups released Thursday found that police throughout Texas stop and search black and Latino drivers at higher rates than whites but that officers are more likely to find drugs, guns and other contraband on whites.

The study, called "Don't Mind If I Take a Look, Do Ya?," examined 2003 statistics provided by 1,060 law enforcement agencies on consensual searches of vehicles during traffic stops and how often contraband was found.

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