A Philadelphia law that bars police from pulling over drivers for some minor traffic offenses has inspired a similar bill in Memphis, Tenn., where five police officers are facing murder charges for the January death of Tyre Nichols.
The Memphis legislation is being championed by council member Michalyn Easter-Thomas, who introduced the plan in the aftermath of Nichols’ death on Jan. 10. Police pulled over Nichols, 29, who was Black, for an alleged traffic violation, and then brutally beat him. He died three days later.
Philadelphia in late 2021 became the first big city in the country to pass a “Driving Equality” law, which reclassified seven low-level offenses as “secondary,” meaning they can’t serve as the sole reason a police officer pulls over a motorist. The law, which was designed to cut down on racial disparities in car stops, took effect in early 2022.
