SHELBY COUNTY, Tenn. — Memphis Mayor Paul Young pleaded with state lawmakers this week to reject a proposal that would prevent cities and counties in Tennessee from limiting the use of pretextual traffic stops by police.
Young sent a letter to state lawmakers saying in part, "It’s imperative we have the ability to determine policies and practices unique to our context. Limiting the ability of local governments to pass ordinances to that effect would be counterproductive to our efforts.”
The bill, sponsored by Shelby County Republicans John Gillespie and Brent Taylor, would prohibit local governments from attempting to limit the use of routine traffic stops, which the city of Memphis tried following the death of Tyre Nichols.
Senator Taylor said Young gave him a heads-up that we would be sending the letter out, and the two remain committed to working together on key issues in Memphis.
“Just because there's daylight between Mayor Young and myself on this doesn't mean we're not in harmony on the larger issue of reducing crime. I support Mayor Young in that effort,” he said.
Activist Amber Sherman believes the bill is far too broad and will have unintended consequences across the state.
“They don't want to just attack traffic stuff, they want to attack the entire ability for us to edit any kind of policy or change any kind of policy that will keep [not only] black Memphians safe, but also black Tennesseans or poor white folks in rural areas,” Sherman said.
Taylor argued the bill is righting a wrong originally put forth by the Memphis City Council. He revealed council chair J.B. Smiley also sent a letter to state lawmakers about the bill, claiming state overreach.
“I just disagree with the premise of the question that this is going to have unintended consequences. What we're talking about is the police department having full access to all lawful ways to conduct investigations and proper policing,” he said.
Despite the opposition, Taylor said he firmly expects the bill to pass the House and Senate next week and become the law of the land.