Figure I – 2017 Traffic Stop Search Enforcements Rates
HIT RATE ANALYSIS
47.1% (1,214) of all traffic stop searches resulted in the discovery of contraband. When
considering the type of search it is clear probable cause searches were the most productive,
accounting for 96.5% (1,172) of all contraband items while only comprising 92.6% (2,388) of
searches conducted. Consent searches on the other hand, produced only 3.5% (42) items of
contraband and comprised a mere 7.4% (191) of searches conducted. It is obvious that
probable cause searches were far more likely to result in contraband hits.
ENFORCEMENT RATE ANALYSIS
When further reviewing contraband hits, it becomes very evident that the vast majority of hits
resulted in either an arrest or citation. The overall enforcement rate was 94.2%, or 1,143
enforcements out of 1,214 contraband hits. Further analysis of the enforcement rate reveals
APD’s enforcement of contraband was consistent across racial/ethnic groups.
More specifically, the African American rate was 95.5%, the Hispanic enforcement rate was
94.6% and the Caucasian rate was 91.2%. While the Asian, Middle Eastern, Native American and
Other enforcement rates were more disparate in nature, those enforcement rates should not
be compared to the Hispanic, African American or Caucasian rates as they were too infrequent