American Civil Liberties Union Issues Critical Report Based On Racial-profiling Data

AUSTIN -- Narcotics task forces in Texas have been using traffic stops as "fishing expeditions" to search motorists and passengers for illegal drugs, according to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

Motorists stopped for traffic violations are searched by narcotics agents at rates much higher than during traffic stops conducted by non-task-force officers, the ACLU said.

The findings were gleaned from reviews of racial-profiling data and published in an ACLU report titled, "Flawed enforcement -- Why drug task force highway interdiction violates rights, wastes tax dollars, and fails to limit the availability of drugs in Texas."

[continues 1367 words]

SEGUIN - The 81st Judicial District Narcotics Task Force might be on the verge of expanding, despite reluctance by elected officials in Guadalupe County to grant police powers to narcotics agents who investigate drug-related crimes.

Based in Floresville, the 81st district's task force conducts anti-drug operations in Wilson, Frio, Atascosa, La Salle, and Karnes counties. A plan to broaden the organization's jurisdiction with oversight by the Department of Public Safety would expand the task force into Gonzales, Lavaca, and Guadalupe counties.

[continues 676 words]

SEGUIN - A state takeover of the 24th and 25th Judicial District Narcotics Task Force will remove control of the four-county drug fighting unit from local authorities and place it in the hands of the Department of Public Safety.

Like task forces around the state, the 24th and 25th NTF was notified recently that funding provided by the federal government and administered through the Governor's Office now comes with a catch: relinquish operational control of the task force to DPS or say farewell to federal dollars.

[continues 810 words]