VIdeo Surveillance of Law Enforcement Traffic Detentions

WHEREAS, African Americans are targeted and detained in traffic stops at a significantly higher proportion than their representation in the general population; and

WHEREAS, African Americans are often cited and arrested for alleged behavior during law enforcement encounters; and

WHEREAS, African Americans are often subject to elevated and lethal use of force during traffic detentions, including pepper spray, electroshock devices, batons and firearms; and

WHEREAS, written law enforcement incident reports are often in conflict with both physical and forensic evidence; and

WHEREAS, African Americans are less likely than the general population to be economically capable of engaging effective counsel to fight enhanced legal charges.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the NAACP reaffirms its 2001 resolution on advocating for the use of dash-cams; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NAACP calls on the United States Congress to mandate and fund law enforcement vehicles to be retrofitted within five years with video and audio surveillance equipment that are functioning on a regular basis; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NAACP calls on the United States Congress to mandate and fund all law enforcement agencies to carry and use within five years gun-cams and Taser-cams; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NAACP calls on the United States Congress to mandate within 5 years all new law enforcement vehicles be equipped with video and audio surveillance equipment, and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the United States Congress mandate the use of video and audio surveillance equipment in all law enforcement detentions to protect the civil and human rights of all Americans.