The impact of race, gender, and demeanor on receiving leniency during traffic stops

Abstract

Research on racial disparities in traffic stops has produced mixed results, with some studies finding Black and Hispanic drivers are more likely to be ticketed than White drivers and others concluding they are not. However, there is limited research assessing whether the driver’s race, gender, or demeanor has the largest impact on receiving leniency. To fill this gap in the literature, I compare the effect of a driver’s race, gender, and demeanor on the probability of receiving leniency for traffic violations. Black and Hispanic drivers were less likely to receive leniency than White drivers. However, the driver’s demeanor had the largest impact on the probability of receiving leniency.