State Senator Mary Lazich Applauds Passage of SB15

A law that law enforcement officers said added too much time and paperwork to their shift has been repealed. Authored by State Senator Mary Lazich, SB 15 was passed earlier this afternoon, Wed., Feb. 23.

Earlier this year, 2009 Wisconsin Act 28 went into effect requiring law enforcement to make note of the race of drivers when motorists are pulled over for traffic violations. According to the Wisconsin Office of Justice Assistance, the goal of the bill was twofold; to determine whether or not there is a difference in the number of traffic stops for minorities and non-minorities and whether or not there is a difference in the number of traffic stop searches of minorities and non-minorities. 

Lazich's office released this statement:

The approval of Senate Bill 15 removes an unnecessary burden on law enforcement. At the committee hearing for the bill, law enforcement officers testified the mandate requires duplicate work and takes away from their ability to fight real crime in their communities.

I am pleased to remove a big government mandate on local units of government, and free up officer's time to focus on community safety, rather than unnecessary, repetitive paperwork.