Study Highlights Unequal Financial and Safety Burdens of U.S. Traffic Stops

A new data-driven study has revealed that traffic stops in the United States not only expose racial disparities but also impose vastly unequal financial penalties on drivers depending on where they live. The research, conducted by Suzuki Law Offices, provides one of the most comprehensive looks at how traffic enforcement impacts drivers across the country.

Scope of Traffic Stops

• 32 million traffic stops occur annually nationwide.

• Over 80 percent are for speeding, reckless driving, or equipment violations.

• 60 percent result in citations.

• 1 million arrests stem from traffic stops each year.

Suzuki Law Offices, the firm behind the study, emphasized that these numbers show how deeply traffic enforcement is embedded in the daily lives of U.S. drivers.

Financial Penalties by State

The study revealed striking differences in the cost of speeding tickets across states.

Table 1: Minimum Fine for Exceeding Speed Limit by 10 mph

The national average fine for exceeding the speed limit by 10 mph is $130, while the median fine is $121.

For more serious violations, the disparities are even greater.

Table 2: Maximum Fine for Exceeding Speed Limit by 40 mph

Illinois drivers face fines more than double those in New York, the second most expensive state.

Who Gets Stopped

The study also examined who is most likely to be stopped and what happens during those encounters.

• Black drivers are 1.5 times more likely to be stopped than White drivers.

• Latino drivers are 1.4 times more likely to be stopped.

• 20 percent of stops involve women.

• 50 percent of drivers report feeling intimidated during a stop.

• 25 percent of stops involve a search, often without an arrest.

Fatal Outcomes

Between 2019 and 2025, 364 traffic stops ended in fatalities.

• 97 percent of victims were male.

• The most common age range was 18 to 35 years old.

• Texas (37 deaths) and California (35 deaths) recorded the highest totals.

• 2022 was the deadliest year, with more than 100 fatalities.

Suzuki Law Offices, which conducted the study, stressed that these fatalities highlight the risks of escalation during routine stops.

Broader Law Enforcement Violence

The study also placed traffic stop fatalities within the context of overall law enforcement violence. In 2024, U.S. law enforcement killed 1,365 people, averaging one fatal incident every 6.44 hours.

• Black Americans were 2.9 times more likely to be killed than White Americans.

• Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders faced a 7.6 times higher risk.

• American Indian and Alaska Native people were 3.1 times more likely to be killed.

Implications

The findings suggest that traffic stops are not only a matter of public safety but also a significant financial burden that varies widely by geography. Suzuki Law Offices concluded that the disparities in both enforcement and penalties raise serious questions about fairness and equity in the nation’s traffic laws.

The firm’s analysis points to the need for greater consistency in fines, stronger oversight of law enforcement practices, and expanded use of body cameras, which the study found reduce complaints by 50 percent.