Black drivers still disproportionately stopped by police in Ann Arbor despite ordinance

ANN ARBOR, MI — When city officials told police to ease up on traffic stops for equipment violations two years ago, the hope was fewer Black motorists would get pulled over for minor infractions in Ann Arbor.

Two years later, an even higher number of Black drivers are getting stopped in the city.

Though city police are less likely to stop drivers for minor violations like a cracked windshield or broken taillight since the passage of the 2023 ordinance, an MLive/Ann Arbor News analysis of police data shows Black drivers make up higher concentrations of such stops compared to pre-ordinance numbers and still are disproportionately stopped.

Overall traffic stops and stops of Black drivers both increased from 2022 to 2024 — police stopped people for other reasons instead.

Andre Watson, pres