A recent analysis of traffic stop data in Massachusetts reveals persistent and widespread disparities in how often police ticket white drivers and drivers of color.
The data, which includes all traffic stops between 2014 and 2022, was obtained and analyzed as part of a USA Today network investigation. USA Today started Matthew Rossassociate professor of public policy and economics at Northeastern, to help analyze the data, given his expertise similar work in other states.
Additionally with investigative stories published by the USA Today Network, Ross produced his own own analysis of the data. He says the results are clear: The data show “pretty large and persistent differences” between how often Massachusetts police stop white drivers and, in particular, black and Hispanic drivers.
