Driving Equality reclassifies 8 minor traffic violations to promote a safer city for all Philadelphians.

Driving Equality

Background

Driving Equality seeks to reduce negative interactions between police and community members. Driving Equality reclassifies 8 minor traffic violations to promote a safer city for all Philadelphians. This approach seeks to redirect police time and resources toward keeping Philadelphians safe while reducing negative interactions. In addition to the historic nature of this legislation, this groundbreaking process brought all parties to the negotiating table to address racial disparities in traffic stops without compromising on the safety and well-being of Philadelphia.

What Is Driving Equality?

Driving Equality reclassifies 8 motor vehicle code violations as “secondary violations,” which removes a traffic stop as the primary enforcement mechanism. Philadelphia police can still make a traffic stop for all other vehicular violations.

Violations that are no longer enforced with a traffic stop

Late registration (with a sixty-day grace period)

Relocation of temporary registration (must be visible)

Hanging license plate (must be visible, fastened)

Missing a single headlight or taillight

Items hanging from the rearview mirror

Minor bumper damage

Driving with an expired or missing inspection sticker

Driving with an expired or missing emission sticker

Timeline

October 2020: Initial Driving Equality bill introduced

October 2020-September 2021: Driving Equality negotiated with Police, Defender Association, Mayor's Administration, etc.

October 2021: Driving Equality is passed

November 2021: Mayor signs Driving Equality Executive Order

November 2021-February 2022: Police training and education

March 2022: Driving Equality enforcement begins

Ongoing: Data collected to ensure Driving Equality curbs racial disparities in traffic stops without compromising on safety.

MYTH | FACT

"Driving Equality bans traffic stops."

Driving Equality reclassifies 8 minor violations.

"Driving Equality constrains Philadelphia Police."

Driving Equality reclassifies 8 minor violations; police can still make a traffic stop for all other violations. All cars and drivers must fully comply with the motor vehicle code.

"Driving Equality led the Police Department to lose accreditation".

The Police Department is fully accredited, in part, because Commissioner Outlaw personally testified in support of Driving Equality.

"Driving Equality will lead to lawlessness."

Driving Equality, created and enforced in partnership with Philadelphia Police, refocuses officers' time on dangerous driving AND tracks data to ensure this goal.

Frequently asked questions

Does Driving Equality let people drive around with tinted windows? Driving Equality does not address tinted windows. Police can pull over a car with tinted windows.

Does Driving Equality let people drive around with fake tags? Driving Equality does not address fake tags. All cars must be registered with legal, visible license plates. Police can pull over a car with fake tags.

Does Philly not require car insurance anymore? Driving Equality has no effect on insurance; insurance is required in Philadelphia.

Can police still pull people over? Yes. If another violation is the main reason for the traffic stop, police can pull over that car. Police cannot pull over a car for one of these 8 violations.

Driving Equality Data

In the year before Driving Equality was implemented, Philadelphia Police found guns in less than 1% of traffic stops.

90% of traffic stops do not result in a ticket.

In the 12 months before Driving Equality was implemented, 72% of people stopped by Philadelphia police in traffic stops were Black.

Driving Equality includes a companion bill that requires data collection around traffic stops to ensure a safer city for all Philadelphians.

Driving Equality:

A National Model* for Improving Police-Community Relations

*Cities across the country have

copied Philadelphia's bills and

process by replicating

Driving Equality

Contact Team Thomas