Pump the brakes - PPB's policy change on minor traffic stops should be considered in context: conversation with CNBSeen's Don Merrill

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Produced by: 
KBOO
Program:: 
Air date: 
Fri, 06/25/2021 - 5:00pm to 5:15pm

 

In June, Portland Police announced that they wouldn't be stopping drivers for minor violations, like broken tail lights or expired tags anymore. 

Mayor Ted Wheeler cited the racial disparities in who is stopped by the cops - Black Portlanders are way over represented. But that may not explain the full context of the decision. 

KBOO's Althea Billings spoke with Don Merrill of the non-profit, CNBSeen. Merrill's non-profit offers to fix broken bulbs free of charge, in an effort to keep people of color from having unnecessary run-ins with the police, run-ins that can turn dangerous.

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