A group of Democratic lawmakers signed a letter on Thursday demanding Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg reform “racist traffic enforcement” and support “transit equity.”
The letter, written by Democratic Representatives Ayanna Pressley and Hank Johnson, was signed by 25 Democratic constituents, including Representatives Cori Bush, Jamaal Bowman, and Ilhan Omar.
Democratic Representative Joyce Beatty of Ohio, who also signed the letter, posted on Twitter last week, “Generations of Black Americans have been unjustly subjected to greater police interactions due to discriminatory traffic enforcement.”
The group called on Buttigieg to reform “harmful” traffic enforcement, “move our nation closer to transit equity,” and “support the wellbeing of Black people traveling on our nation’s roads and highways.”
According to a press release issued by Pressley, of the 20 million people pulled over for traffic violations each year, “Black motorists are overrepresented compared to their white counterparts,” which is “even more alarming considering Black people are less likely to have access to a vehicle.”
“On our nation’s roads and highways, Black motorists have experienced disproportionate scrutiny and excessive force under the guise of traffic enforcement,” the group’s letter stated. “As Secretary of the United States Department of Transportation (DOT), we urge you to condemn the status quo of traffic enforcement and develop reforms to reduce racial inequities in traffic stops.”
The group argued that Buttigieg should prioritize “eliminating financial barriers to vehicle registration and upgrading traffic lights.” They suggested using funds from the Biden administration’s Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act.
The Democratic lawmakers also called on the DOT “to evaluate public campaigns and grants designed to incentivize, expand, and embed policing in traffic safety; ensure federal funds do not contribute to racist enforcement; and recognize that brutality during traffic enforcement is itself a threat to highway safety, among other things.”
The letter praised Philadelphia, Oregon, and Virginia for making “systemic changes” by “moving minor traffic infractions, such as a single missing taillight or an object hanging on a rear-view mirror, away from enforcement by armed police officers.”
“Traffic safety should not come at the expense of the dignity and safety of the Black community. The status quo of inequitable traffic enforcement is the product of racist policies, outdated infrastructure, and limited oversight,” it added.
The DOT told Fox News Digital that it would respond to the letter by following up with the lawmakers directly.
“The Department takes this issue very seriously,” a spokesperson stated. “We will continue to work to ensure our traffic safety programs, including grant-making, uphold both safety and equity.”
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