Is racial profiling a good thing?

Question

Do so many people really support a cop pulling over a black man just for driving in a "white neighborhood?"

Answer 1

no, of course not. it's sad that it happens so much.

Answer 2

Stopping someone just because of their race is wrong and despite what some people think, really does not occur too often. What does occur is someone being stopped because they look out of place and yes, race has something to do with it. Like it or not most neighborhoods have a predominant race determined by many factors. It would take too long to go over the reasons for these patterns but they do exist. A Caucasian person parked along a street at 3am in a neighborhood that it predominately African-American can be considered suspicious. His presence there is not wrong, but could be an indication that something more is going on and worthy of further investigation. This same theory applies to any difference in appearance. If the police stop a guy wearing a winter coat while everyone else in the area is wearing shorts and t-shirts, is that discrimination against people who are cold?

Answer 3

Profiling in and of itself I do not think is a bad thing but a tool to aid police in their job. Profiling can be used in a wrong way however and in todays liberal media, its only the bad that gets reported. therefore all you see is "Bad racial profiling".
Should a black man in a predominantly white neighborhood get pulled over? No.
but what it was a very rich neighborhood and he was driving an old beatup car and driving very slow looking at other vehicles. HELL YES he should be pulled over. Now the profile is not that he is black. but that he may be a car thief or a burglar.
A White guy in his late teens early 20's driving a fancy car at 2:00AM in a rundown ghetto neighborhood is most likely there for one of two reasons. Drugs or Prostitutes. Now its possible there may be some other reason for him to be there but not likely.

My Brother is a cop and he is also on answers. if he sees this question he will likely respond himself. but he is knowm in his department as the "Cadillac man" Because he is always busting cadillacs. 9 out of 10 times a cadillac is going to have drugs or persons with warrants in the vehicle. He cannot stop a car just because it is a cadillac. nor can he make up an excuse. But he WILL follow that car for a few blocks to see what it does. if they make any mistake (Failure to signal a lane change) he then has reason to pull them over. At this point he will be able to run their drivers license etc... and most likely finds warrants or drugs in the vehicle. More often than not the Wanted ones will give themselves away and try to "Ditch the cop" and that will only tip the police off instead.

Answer 4

If the cops insist on profiling, they need to have probable cause to pull someone over i.e. tail light out, cracked windshield. So they can profile if they do it legally-I think it's a fine line they walk. So, if you are a black man in a white neighborhood, make sure all your lights on your car work properly!

Answer 5

In general - no, not just for driving in a "white neighborhood". However, if he just got a report on crime commited by a black man - yes, I understand why is he selective. He simply doesn't bother with the ones that don't match the description. When he pulls you over without any explanation, can you just assume he's looking for someone who looks like you but actually is not you?

I got pulled over just recently for no apparent reason. My ID was checked and returned to me, and I was told to proceed. They were pulling everyone over, without any explanation. They were doing their job, that's all. Later I learned that a criminal had escaped and I happened to drive on a road of his only possible escape. Big deal, just get over it and say thanks to the law enforcement - you can actually call police in this country and they show up to help you. Try living in some other country when they show up 2-3 hours later. You might develop a different view on it.

Answer 6

I got pulled over in a low income aka black neighborhood for being white. Well the real reason was suspicion my tint was too dark but all of the officers questions were about where, why and who I was with. I denied a search of my vehicle and was on my way.

Answer 7

That's not racial profiling, that's bigotry... Profiling (weather racial or not) is just one tool that law enforcement has. To put another spin on your question... is pulling over a white man just for driving in a black neighborhood supportable? Think about it and you may see why it may be done.

Answer 8

Yes. The police can target people who look like they don't belong, or who fit the profile of a certain type of criminal. They can use profiling to eliminate people who don't fit a particular profile and concentrate their efforts on those who do.

I had a boss who drove me home after work. He was always getting pulled over for what he called "suspicion of being white." He always was polite with the police, and even shared that joke with them. They always let him go with no further delay and he was never bothered by it.

If a crime was commited by a short, hispanic woman in her 20's I'd expect to be questioned and wouldn't mind if the police stopped me to investigate.

Answer 9

No its not! I'm white and I get profiled alot for the way i look! And, it can get pretty frustrating. I own my home, I work hard, I have a bank account, a car note, I pay my taxes on time, im active in my community. But, because i have a shaved head and facial hair I'm put into a group. it's B.S! and it's wrong!!!

Answer 10

If there was a report of a black man that just robbed someone, and you only see one black guy, then yes, wouldnt you pull him over?

How many non islamic's have hijacked a plane in the last 30 years?

Answer 11

Gee, is it a good thing to assume you're as rotten as any guy profiled in America's Most Wanted just because you share his race?