The law, entitled Alvin W. Penn Racial Profiling Prohibition Act (Public Act 99-198), prohibits any law enforcement agency from stopping, detaining, or searching any motorist when the stop is motivated solely by considerations of the race, color, ethnicity, age, gender or sexual orientation of that individual (Connecticut General Statutes Sections 54-1l).
In 2012, the Connecticut General Assembly made several changes to the law to improve the system established to address racial profiling concerns in Connecticut. Changes to the law took effect on October 1, 2013 and are summarized below.
Police agencies must adopt a written policy that prohibits the stopping, detention, or search of any person when such action is solely motivated by considerations of race, color, ethnicity, age, gender, or sexual orientation, and such action would constitute a violation of the civil rights of the person.
Police officers must record traffic stop information using the standardized method and any form developed and implemented by the Racial Profiling Prohibition Advisory Board and the Office of Policy and Management. Currently officers are required to collect the following information for each traffic stop:
A notice must be given to the person stopped that if the person believes they have been stopped, detained or subject to a search based on a protected class they may file a complaint with the appropriate law enforcement agency.
Authority given to the Secretary of the Office of Police and Management if municipal police departments and Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) fail to comply with the law to order appropriate penalties in the form of withholding of state funds.