The “How many Stops Act” officially went into effect in New York City on July 1, requiring police officers to meticulously record every stop and frisk conducted on the streets. Mayor Adams, who opposed this legislation, stated that although he still believes it may not be the right time to implement it, the NYPD will carry out its duties in accordance with the law.
This law aims to increase transparency in police enforcement by mandating officers to record detailed information of individuals subjected to stops, including their race, ethnicity, age, and gender. Previously, police only needed to document stops involving “reasonable suspicion of a crime” at Level 3. The new law requires them to record all stops, whether at Level 1, 2, or 3, even those without suspicion or with minimal suspicion. Adams had vetoed this legislation citing an increase in paperwork burden for the police, but the veto was overturned by the City Council, leading to its enforcement on July 1 as scheduled.
On the day the law came into effect, Mayor Adams was interviewed by 1010 Wins radio and NY1 news, both questioning him about the Act. He told 1010 Wins that while he believes the intention of the law is correct, the timing of its implementation is wrong; police should be patrolling the streets rather than doing paperwork, but now that it’s the law, the city government must comply. The police department has already trained officers and adjusted internal mechanisms to enforce the law. However, Adams also informed NY1 that like any new measure, there might be some obstacles when the new law is put into practice.
Tension between the police and minority communities resurfaced again after a Burmese teenager was shot by police for brandishing a fake gun and evading a stop in Utica on the evening of June 28. A federal monitor’s report from April to October 2022 found that nearly a quarter of the NYPD’s Level 3 stops raised concerns about potential violations of constitutional rights, with 97% of those stopped being either Black or Hispanic, leading to the City Council passing the “How many Stops Act”.
Michael Sisitzky, Assistant Policy Director of the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU), told NY1 that with this new law in place, all parties will have a clearer understanding of the actual daily duties of the police, which could help address issues between law enforcement and the community more effectively. However, Jill Snider, a lecturer at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and former NYPD officer, believes the new law could hinder police-community relations. She informed NY1 that the law’s requirement for police to document detailed information about individuals they come into contact with might raise suspicion among the public, leading to resistance and a reluctance to engage with law enforcement officials proactively.