Ramsey County Ends Felony Prosecutions From Low-Level Stops

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) _ Ramsey County Attorney John Choi is planning to announce a new policy to end felony prosecutions that stem from low-level traffic stops.

His office says the policy is designed to fundamentally change the use of traffic stops that are not initiated for public safety reasons.

These types of stops _ for issues such as a broken tail light or expired license tabs _ disproportionately affect minority communities, and can sometimes have fatal consequences.

In 2016, Philando Castile was pulled over for a broken tail light and fatally shot after he told an officer he had a gun.

Police departments nationwide have been looking at their traffic stop policies and some, like Minneapolis, have said they will no longer stop drivers for minor infractions.