[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 107 (Tuesday, July 27, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1659]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNITION OF S. 76, THE TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT STATISTICS BILL AS 
   INTRODUCED BY STATE SENATOR FRANK W. BALANCE, JR., RALEIGH, NORTH 
                                CAROLINA

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                           HON. BOB ETHERIDGE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 27, 1999

  Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, as a strong proponent of equal 
enforcement and protections under the law, I rise today to call the 
attention of the Congress to North Carolina Senate Bill (SB) 76, 
``Traffic Enforcement Statistics'' legislation introduced by North 
Carolina State Senator and Deputy President Pro Tempore Frank W. 
Balance, Jr. Governor James B. Hunt of North Carolina signed SB 76 into 
law on April 22, 1999.
  SB 76 will greatly assist in determining whether minorities are 
treated fairly by highway patrols along North Carolina roads and 
highways by requiring troopers to record the race, age and sex of every 
driver stopped as well as to cite the reason for particular stops. The 
collected data will be presented by the Attorney General's Office in a 
biennial report to the General Assembly. As the chief sponsor of the 
bill, Senator Balance argued that ``there should not be a crime called 
`driving while black.` ''
  Mr. Speaker, SB 76 can serve as a viable model for other states 
experiencing similar concerns about equal enforcement of traffic laws 
as well as for our nation. To provide you with more detailed 
information regarding this important legislation, I am submitting the 
text of SB 76 along with an article from the Raleigh News & Observer. I 
encourage my colleagues to read this article and consider SB 76's 
applicability for your states and on the federal level.

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