Two lawsuits in Genesee county aim to block Michigan State Police from engaging in high-speed chases over minor traffic violations.
Plaintiff attorneys say African Americans are two to three times more likely than whites to live in a community where high-speed chases will end in death, injury, or property damage.
Michael Pitt is an attorney on the case.
“We’re asking the court to declare the Michigan state policy of pursuing minor traffic violators to be in violation of the Elliott Larsen civil rights act.”
Pitt says an analysis of Michigan State Police data overwhelmingly supports their claim.
“This demonstrates fairly conclusively that people who live in predominantly African American communities are more susceptible to this kind of an injury than comparable white people are in affluent, predominantly white communities.”
In a written statement, a representative for the Michigan State Police said they will seek to have the case dismissed
A judge is expected to hear the case for dismissal at the end of July.