A recent analysis of Massachusetts traffic stop data reveals persistent and widespread discrepancies in how often police ticket white drivers and drivers of color.
The data, which includes all traffic stops between 2014 and 2022, was acquired and analyzed as part of an investigation by the USA Today Network. USA Today brought on Matthew Ross, an associate professor of public policy and economics at Northeastern, to assist with analyzing the data, given his experience doing similar work in other states.
In addition to the investigative stories published by the the USA Today Network, Ross produced his own analysis of the data. He says the results are clear: The data shows “fairly large and persistent disparities” between how often Massachusetts police stop white drivers and, specifically, Black and Hispanic drivers.
