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Governor seatbelt proposal raises racial profiling concerns

February 22, 2000
By: Laetitia Thompson
State Capital Bureau

A proposal endorsed by Governor Mel Carnahan allowing police to pull over adults for not wearing a seat belt raised opposition from the Missouri legislature's only black Republican.

Laetitia Thompson has the story from the state capitol.

Story:
RunTime:
OutCue: SOC

Republican Representative Carson Ross says he won't tolerate racial profiling under the new seatbelt proposal.

Ross says he's confident the Missouri Highway Patrol will prevent racial profiling but worries about police enforcement on the local level.

Actuality:ROSS2
RunTime: 20 SEC
OutCue: "OPPURTUNITY TO DO THAT."
Contents: ROSS SAYS THE LAW COULD ACT AS ANOTHER EXCUSE FOR RACIAL PROFILING.

Ross says he will support the seatbelt bill if the House will attach an ammendment addressing his racial profiling concerns.

From Jefferson City, I'm Laetitia Thompson.


The only black Republican in the Missouri legislature raised concerns over racial profiling after Governor Mel Carnahan endorsed a new seatbelt proposal.

Laetitia Thompson has the story from the state capitol.

Story:
RunTime:
OutCue: SOC

The governor says police ought to be able to pull over and ticket adults not wearing seatbelts on Missouri's roads.

But Republican Representative Carson Ross says he's concerned the seatbelt proposal could provide an excuse for racial profiling.

Actuality:ROSS4
RunTime: 18 SEC
OutCue: "I WANT IT STOPPED."
Contents: ROSS SAYS JUST BECAUSE HE LOOKS DIFFERENT DOESN'T MEAN HE CAN BE PULLED OVER AND HANDCUFFED AND WANTS IT STOPPED.

Ross says he will support the seatbelt proposal if provisions are made to prevent the potential for racial profiling.

From Jefferson City, I'm Laetitia Thompson