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Is There Racial Bias in the Enforcement of Primary Seat Belt Laws? Evidence from Veil of Darkness Tests

Author

Listed:
  • Brewer Ben

    (Department of Economics, Finance & Insurance, University of Hartford, West Hartford, CT, USA)

Abstract

State mandatory seat belt laws have become stricter over time, allowing for a vehicle to be stopped solely for a suspected seat belt infraction. While effective in reducing traffic fatalities, this additional discretion may also come with the possibility of increased racial targeting. Using individual-level traffic stop data, I combine recent advances in the Veil-of-Darkness test with a difference-in-difference identification strategy to estimate whether primary seat belt laws are associated with changes in the racial composition of seat belt stops. Results indicate that under primary seat belt enforcement, a black individual is 1.138–1.222 times more likely than a white individual to be stopped for a seat belt violation under the good visibility of daylight compared to the poor visibility of darkness. These additional stops end mostly in warnings, suggesting the law is used to increase the number of pretextual stops made, specifically on black drivers.

Suggested Citation

  • Brewer Ben, 2023. "Is There Racial Bias in the Enforcement of Primary Seat Belt Laws? Evidence from Veil of Darkness Tests," The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 23(3), pages 807-819, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:bpj:bejeap:v:23:y:2023:i:3:p:807-819:n:6
    DOI: 10.1515/bejeap-2022-0308
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    seat belt laws; racial profiling; Veil of Darkness;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • K14 - Law and Economics - - Basic Areas of Law - - - Criminal Law
    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law
    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination

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