Black drivers ‘stay ready,’ navigating low-level traffic stops
This is the second installment of a series, “Profiled: The State of Traffic Stops in Illinois,” published in partnership with WBEZ Chicago. Find the first story here.
James Etienne always keeps his “stay-ready folder” with him when he’s behind the wheel. Just in case.
The 39-year-old has been pulled over by police two dozen times since 2007, Cook County court records show, and in half of those encounters, he was cited only for non-moving violations — including broken tail lights, standing in a loading zone and the improper display of a license plate.
Etienne doesn’t have a perfect driving record. He’s been ticketed for speeding multiple times and was cited for driving when his license was suspended over unpaid red-light camera fees and fines. Currently, he’s in good standing, and he keeps his car title, bill of sale and other documents in the folder to show police if he’s stopped again.
“I’ve learned it’s better to stay ready than get ready,” said Etienne, an emergency medical services driver. “[W]hen someone asks me a question, I’m able to show them something tangible, rather than have them question me and my integrity and my validity.”
Etienne’s frequent encounters with police may sound familiar to Black drivers across Illinois. An analysis of 42.5 million traffic stop records by WBEZ and the Investigative Project on Race and Equity reveals that, in recent years, the share of Black drivers involved in Illinois traffic stops have reached their highest levels on record.