audio by title illinois police fights claims it singles out minorities

The American Civil Liberties Union is leading the call for an end to the way the Illinois State Police conducts some routine traffic stops. The organization says officers unfairly search minorities.

The ACLU points to a new study by Northwestern University. In it, researchers find that state officers ask to search the cars of minorities three times more often than the cars of whites. The suspects don't have to agree to the search, but frequently allow it. Of those who are searched, it's whites who are typically caught with something illegal. Harvey Grossman, with the ACLU, says the practice victimizes minorities.