← Autodidact Archive · Original Dissent · seq
Thread ID: 5554 | Posts: 3 | Started: 2003-03-14
2003-03-14 22:33 | User Profile
When are they going to outlaw, imprison, fine the outlaws?
McGreevey Signs Bill To Outlaw Racial Profiling
POSTED: 11:34 a.m. EST March 14, 2003 UPDATED: 11:37 a.m. EST March 14, 2003
TRENTON, N.J. -- Gov. James E. McGreevey signed into law Friday a bill that makes racial profiling illegal.
"This signing marks a major step between bridging the gap between the minority community and law enforcement in this state," said the Rev. Reginald Jackson, executive director of the Black Ministers Council of New Jersey.
Jackson, minority legislators and other activists have pressed for such a state law for five years. In April 1998, two state troopers fired on four minority men in a van, wounding three, during a traffic stop on the New Jersey Turnpike.
"We are committed to ending racial profiling in New Jersey," said Acting Attorney General Peter C. Harvey. Profiling by public officials, including police officers, would carry a penalty of up to five years in prison. If someone is injured, penalties increase to 10 years.
To be found guilty, a person must commit the act at least twice. The new law also covers cases where documents are forged or instances where racial identities are hidden on official reports.
Police groups had fought the legislation on several fronts. The latest objection alleged that the measure would make it illegal for officers to search for suspects based on general physical descriptions.
Officers also claimed the law would cripple the state's newly established Amber Alert system, which broadcasts information to help police locate abducted or missing children. Harvey ruled the bill would allow such routine searches, and his decision was incorporated into an Assembly vote Thursday to approve the bill.
The statement makes clear that the bill's language does not prohibit alerts that include racial or ethnic descriptions nor prohibit stops based on alerts of that type.
[url=http://www.wnbc.com/politics/2040869/detail.html]http://www.wnbc.com/politics/2040869/detail.html[/url]
2003-03-14 22:45 | User Profile
The cops on the beat have no interest in procuring the imposed paperwork concerning this joke. I don't know if they have fought against it in NJ, but I know they did in RI. The new chief in Providence is trying to implement it, after the previous chief who was supposed to implement it never did. What about " crappy car profiling " ?? thats what I want to know. If you're driving an old or slightly beat-up car, or have long hair, they always pull you over. How about a " crappy car profiling " solution ??? More power to the NIGS and drive proud in that 60k Mercedes bought on drug money..sick.
2003-03-15 00:32 | User Profile
**The latest objection alleged that the measure would make it illegal for officers to search for suspects based on general physical descriptions. **
Say goodby to effective policing. Now any crook caught in NJ can claim "he be profiling me". Slam dunk the judge has to throw it out.
Is this a progressive country of what?