Would these changes improve traffic stops in New Jersey?

A just-completed study in New Jersey has revamped routine traffic stops, and researchers suggest the new approach goes a long way toward improving relations between law enforcement and the public.

Prompted by strained relations between politicians and the community following high-profile violent incidents, the study changed the way police in Atlantic City and Pleasantville interacted with drivers and passengers over the course of more than of 1,400 road checks.

Officers conducting these stops followed a script intended to promote fairness and let motorists know they were stopped for a legitimate reason. Police were equipped with historical crash data they could present to drivers, which shows why traffic stops may occur in certain locations more than others.

Additionally, the study allowed officers to give drivers the option to access police-worn body camera footage during the interaction. The driver would receive a code and a few days later could upload the images.

“We thought that if the police became more transparent and more accountable … it would reduce stress,” said Nusret Sahin, lead researcher and associate professor of criminal justice at Stockton University in Galloway.

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The $700,000 initiative was funded by the National Institute of Justice, Stockton, Rutgers and Northwestern universities, as well as the two police departments. The roadside checks took place from October 2022 to June 2024.

Researchers were present at each of the traffic stops. After the interaction with police, drivers were asked if they would like to participate in a survey about their experience. Fifty-five percent agreed, Sahin said.

“We found that there are significant differences in perceptions between people who received our protocol and those who did not,” Sahin said.

The protocol increased trust in the police, the researchers said. People who have experienced the protocol are “more likely to cooperate with police” and more likely “to obey police directives,” Sahin said.

“We believe that officers must engage with citizens, listen to them and explain their practices,” Sahin said. “When they do that, they gain public support for their app or their activities in the community.”

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