New study: Officers' first communication with Black drivers can determine traffic stop outcome

New study sheds light on how an officers' first communication with Black drivers can determine the outcome of a traffic stop. (Courtesy of Michael Fortsch)

Eugenia Rho, an assistant professor of computer science at Virginia Tech, says Black drivers stopped by law enforcement officers are more likely to be handcuffed, searched and arrested during a traffic stop than any other demographic group.

“In this country, there’s a clear racial disparity in who is stopped by the police when driving said Rho, who leads the SAIL (Society + AI & Language) at Virginia Tech.

On Tuesday’s edition of “Closer Look, Professor Rho talked with show host Rose Scott about a traffic stop study that aims to shed light on how an officer’s first 45 words during a traffic stop with a Black driver can often determine the outcome of a traffic stop.