By Dutton H.C.R. No. 213 74R13451 SMC-D HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, In recent months concerns have been raised about the 1-2 unequal treatment of motorists on the roads and highways of our 1-3 state; and 1-4 WHEREAS, According to a Houston Chronicle analysis of more 1-5 than 16 million Texas driving records covering a three-year period, 1-6 minority drivers in and around Texas' major urban areas were twice 1-7 as likely to be ticketed for traffic violations, such as not having 1-8 a driver's license or proof of liability insurance, than were other 1-9 drivers; and 1-10 WHEREAS, The newspaper's study and subsequent news articles 1-11 have led to charges by some state and civic leaders of an uneven 1-12 enforcement of our traffic laws that has led to "traffic ticket 1-13 traps" based on race in many small cities in and around the state's 1-14 largest urban areas; and 1-15 WHEREAS, Any real or perceived inequities with regard to the 1-16 fair enforcement of traffic laws present a serious problem that 1-17 must be addressed at the highest level of state government; now, 1-18 therefore, be it 1-19 RESOLVED, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas 1-20 hereby direct the Office of the Attorney General to conduct a 1-21 review of the issue of "traffic ticket traps" as reported in the 1-22 Houston Chronicle or any other such instance of reported 1-23 discrimination relating to the state's traffic laws; and, be it 1-24 further 2-1 RESOLVED, That the Office of the Attorney General make a full 2-2 report of its findings and proposed solutions to the 74th 2-3 Legislature in a timely fashion.