Last week, the ACLU of Illinois joined with a group of civil rights organizations from across the State calling on Governor Rod Blagojevich to end the practice of consent searches by the Illinois State Police. The call followed an analysis (by the ACLU) of data reported to the Illinois Department of Transportation by law enforcement agencies as part of the Illinois Traffic Stop Studies Act -- passed in 2003.

The data was startling: while more than 90% of all drivers "consent" to a search of their vehicle when they are asked by a police officer (including ISP troopers), police in Illinois are three times more likely to ask an African American or Hispanic driver for permission to search -- three times. Worse still, it turns out that the higher scrutiny given to African American and Hispanic drivers is unwarranted. In 2007, for example, state troopers were 3 times more likely to find contraband in the car of white driver asked to submit to a consent search compared to an African American motorist. And, troopers were 8 times -- yes, 8 times -- more likely to find contraband in the car of a white driver compared to doing a similar consent search of a Hispanic driver.

The data is clear. And, it is time for Governor Blagojevich to act -- without delay -- to bar the Illinois State police from conducting "consent searches" of motorists in our state. You can send a message to the Governor by going here.

This morning, Steve Chapman of the Chicago Tribune joined the ACLU of Illinois' call (along with our coalition partners) urging the Governor to end the searches. You can read that story here.