A new lawsuit accuses the NYPD of disproportionately stopping and searching Black and Hispanic drivers without legal justification.

The suit, filed in federal court by the New York Civil Liberties Union and Bronx Defender Services, is brought by plaintiffs including Justin Cohen and Christopher Oliver, two Black drivers who say they were subjected to unlawful vehicle searches by the NYPD based solely on race.

What You Need To Know

  • A new lawsuit accuses the NYPD of disproportionately stopping and searching Black and Hispanic drivers without probable cause

  • The suit says Black drivers were 10 times more likely and Hispanic drivers six times more likely than white drivers to be searched during traffic stops

  • Plaintiffs include Justin Cohen and Christopher Oliver, two Black drivers who say officers searched them without consent and found no contraband

  • The lawsuit seeks to block the NYPD’s vehicle search practices and demands damages for the plaintiffs

According to the lawsuit, Cohen, a Westchester County resident, was stopped by NYPD officers, ordered out of his vehicle and searched without consent or probable cause. No contraband was found, and a speeding ticket later issued to him was dismissed.

Oliver, a New York City resident, says he was subjected to four separate vehicle searches by NYPD officers without consent or legal justification. The lawsuit says no tickets were issued and no contraband was recovered in any of the incidents.

According to the NYCLU, of the more than 2 million traffic stops conducted since 2022, Black drivers accounted for 32% and Hispanic drivers 30%.

Black drivers were 10 times more likely than white drivers to be searched, while Hispanic drivers were six times more likely, according to the suit.

The suit is seeking a declaration that the policy is illegal, a permanent injunction barring its continued enforcement and monetary damages for Cohen and Oliver.

The lawsuit comes three years after a law took effect requiring the NYPD to document every vehicle stop and whether enforcement action was taken.

The NYPD did not immediately respond to a request for comment.