Night and day: racial disparities in police arrests across Black and Latine communities in Travis County

Racial and ethnic disparities in traffic stop outcomes remain a persistent issue in U.S. policing. There is a link between a driver’s race and gender, with male Black and Latino drivers being arrested at higher rates than white drivers. Literature suggests time of day influences arrest outcomes. This study examines whether racial and ethnic disparities in arrest outcomes in traffic stops vary by time of day in Travis County, Texas. Data from Austin’s Racial Profiling Dataset were analyzed using a binomial logistic regression (n = 44,316). Black (OR = 3.17) and Latine drivers (OR = 2.28) had higher odds of arrest compared to white drivers0. A race and ethnicity and nighttime interaction showed disparities differed under reduced visibility. Findings highlight traffic stops and subsequent arrest as a racial equity issue.