New York City's Police Department has been accused of perpetuating systemic racism in its traffic enforcement practices, with motor vehicle searches disproportionately targeting Black and Latino drivers. According to a new lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, the NYPD has seen a surge in vehicle searches under Mayor Eric Adams' term, with nearly 84% of all searches conducted on drivers from these racial backgrounds.
Between 2022 and September 2025, the number of motor vehicle searches more than doubled to 28,416, exceeding pre-pandemic levels. Notably, Black and Latino drivers made up a staggering 84% of those searched, with white motorists making up less than 4%. This stark disparity suggests that racial bias may be at play.
The NYPD's practice has been likened to the discredited "stop and frisk" policy of former Mayor Michael Bloomberg, which was widely criticized for its disproportionate impact on Black and Latino pedestrians. The current practice, dubbed "stop-and-frisk on wheels," appears to have adapted this approach to traffic enforcement.
Critics argue that the increased focus on vehicle searches is a thinly veiled attempt to target drivers from these racial backgrounds. According to Joshua Levin, an NYPD spokesperson, more officers are sent to areas with high crime rates and resident complaints, resulting in more stops. However, data suggests that police conduct vehicle searches at higher rates in predominantly Black and Latino neighborhoods, even when controlling for crime levels.
The lawsuit alleges civil rights violations and seeks damages for the plaintiffs, including two Black New Yorkers whose vehicles were searched by the NYPD. It demands an end to the allegedly unlawful conduct and the establishment of "appropriate standards" within the department.
Experts point out that nearly 96% of searches do not result in arrests for criminal possession of a weapon, raising questions about the effectiveness and fairness of this practice. The plaintiffs' stories illustrate the often-fruitless nature of these searches, with one driver having his vehicle searched four times in two years without ever being issued a ticket or finding contraband.
The lawsuit comes as some critics contend that the NYPD's approach has not disappeared but rather evolved, reflecting systemic racism within the department. The NAACP New York State Conference and NYCLU have joined forces to challenge this practice, calling for greater accountability and an end to the "stop-and-frisk on wheels" phenomenon in New York City.
Between 2022 and September 2025, the number of motor vehicle searches more than doubled to 28,416, exceeding pre-pandemic levels. Notably, Black and Latino drivers made up a staggering 84% of those searched, with white motorists making up less than 4%. This stark disparity suggests that racial bias may be at play.
The NYPD's practice has been likened to the discredited "stop and frisk" policy of former Mayor Michael Bloomberg, which was widely criticized for its disproportionate impact on Black and Latino pedestrians. The current practice, dubbed "stop-and-frisk on wheels," appears to have adapted this approach to traffic enforcement.
Critics argue that the increased focus on vehicle searches is a thinly veiled attempt to target drivers from these racial backgrounds. According to Joshua Levin, an NYPD spokesperson, more officers are sent to areas with high crime rates and resident complaints, resulting in more stops. However, data suggests that police conduct vehicle searches at higher rates in predominantly Black and Latino neighborhoods, even when controlling for crime levels.
The lawsuit alleges civil rights violations and seeks damages for the plaintiffs, including two Black New Yorkers whose vehicles were searched by the NYPD. It demands an end to the allegedly unlawful conduct and the establishment of "appropriate standards" within the department.
Experts point out that nearly 96% of searches do not result in arrests for criminal possession of a weapon, raising questions about the effectiveness and fairness of this practice. The plaintiffs' stories illustrate the often-fruitless nature of these searches, with one driver having his vehicle searched four times in two years without ever being issued a ticket or finding contraband.
The lawsuit comes as some critics contend that the NYPD's approach has not disappeared but rather evolved, reflecting systemic racism within the department. The NAACP New York State Conference and NYCLU have joined forces to challenge this practice, calling for greater accountability and an end to the "stop-and-frisk on wheels" phenomenon in New York City.
84% of people being stopped by the police just because they're black or latino is not right at all 
. it's like, can't we just treat everyone equally no matter what? 
i mean, pre-pandemic levels were already super high but now they've more than doubled? that's insane 
. and 96% of searches don't even lead to arrests? what's the point of all these stops then? 
. it feels like the police are just making up excuses for why they're doing this, like "we're targeting areas with high crime rates" but really they're just targeting black and latino neighborhoods because... well you know 
. i'm definitely on the side of those who think this is a systemic racism issue, we need to hold our police departments accountable 
.
... it's like we're still fighting the same battles from back in the day 
... 84% of Black and Latino drivers being searched? that's just crazy 
... it's not even about the crime rates, it's about racial bias, plain and simple 
... I mean I get that more officers are sent to areas with high crime rates, but does that really justify targeting drivers from those neighborhoods? 
... and to think we're still dealing with this same stuff after all these years 
... I wish someone would come up with a real solution, not just more lawsuits and complaints 
...
. its not about targeting crime hotspots or making areas safer, its about racism plain and simple 
. the fact that 96% of searches don't even lead to an arrest is just a nice way of saying the police are making stuff up 
. something needs to change in this city before people start feeling like they're living in some kinda dystopian movie 
it's time for the nypd to acknowledge and address this systemic racism issue, not just for the sake of justice but also because it's just plain human decency 
. I mean, can you blame them for targeting areas with high crime rates? It's like, common sense, right? If they're already dealing with problems in a neighborhood, it's only logical to increase patrols and checks on vehicles. Plus, those stats don't necessarily prove racism, could just be about targeting specific hotspots where crimes are more likely to happen. And let's be real, if 96% of searches don't lead to arrests, that's actually kind of a win? I mean, who doesn't want the police to catch people with guns or drugs on them? 
nyc police department being accused of perpetuating systemic racism in traffic enforcement its like theyre targeting drivers from these backgrounds with vehicle searches instead of focusing on actual crime rates 
the numbers are crazy 84% of searched drivers are black and latino its like theyre playing a game of racial profiling 
the lawsuit needs to happen ASAP so we can get some justice for those who have been wronged 
This whole thing is wild. I mean, we thought we were past the whole stop-and-frisk debacle, but it seems like the NYPD just found a new way to play the game. I'm not surprised that Black and Latino drivers are getting hit hard with these vehicle searches - it's not like this is a new pattern of racism. The fact that nearly 4% of white motorists get searched at all is basically non-existent. It's like they're trying to send a message, but the only one getting it is the ones who already feel marginalized.
28,416 searches between 2022-Sept 2025 is way more than pre-pandemic levels 
and white motorists are making up less than 4% 
but at the same time, nearly all stops happen in predominantly Black & Latino neighborhoods 
I'm so sorry I'm late to this thread! Anyway, I think it's wild that they're saying it's about targeting areas with high crime rates... like, isn't that just a way of saying we're targeting people from certain backgrounds? 
i mean, sure, the numbers are wild but is it really that simple? i think we gotta consider the context too. the nypd is just trying to keep their streets safe, right? and if that means targeting areas with high crime rates, then so be it 
. now, i'm not saying racism doesn't play a role here, but let's not jump to conclusions just yet 
. This lawsuit is necessary, and I hope the NYPD takes it seriously.
. It's crazy how this practice has more than doubled since 2022, with nearly 84% of all searches being on people from these racial groups. What's even crazier is that white motorists make up less than 4%, which suggests some serious systemic racism at play 
.
. The fact that only 4% are white drivers? That's some messed up math 
. And the fact that most searches don't even lead to arrests? That's just ridiculous 
. The plaintiffs' stories are insane, being searched four times in two years without ever getting a ticket or finding anything? That's some wild stuff 
.
. We need more accountability from our law enforcement agencies. This "stop-and-frisk on wheels" thing has got to stop 
.
But at the same time, I get what they're saying about trying to target areas with high crime rates and stuff... 
Maybe we need to have a conversation about how we define "high crime rate" neighborhoods and make sure it's not just being used as an excuse to, you know, target people based on their skin color? 