HB196 • 2025

AN ACT AMENDING TITLE 21 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO TRAFFIC STOPS.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Romer
Last action: 2025-06-10
Official status: Out of Committee 6/10/25
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill status shows it passed committee but has not yet been enacted into law; therefore, no effective calendar date exists in the source material.

HB196: Recording Traffic Stop Details

This bill requires Delaware police officers to record specific details about a traffic stop, including the reason given and the primary reason for it, into an official system.

What This Bill Does

Requires law enforcement officers to record time, date, location, the primary reason for the stop, and the reason communicated to the driver in DELJIS during or immediately after a traffic stop ends.
Gives the Statistical Analysis Center access to this data for public reporting, oversight, and analysis of traffic stop practices.

Who It Names or Affects

Law enforcement officers who conduct stops under Title 21 or Section 5211 of Title 30
People stopped during these traffic incidents
The Statistical Analysis Center

Terms To Know

DELJIS: Delaware Criminal Justice Information System, the database where officers must enter stop details.
Statistical Analysis Center: The state office that will receive and study traffic stop data for reporting and oversight purposes.

Limits and Unknowns

The law takes effect 60 days after it is signed into law, but the specific calendar date depends on when enactment occurs.
The text does not specify penalties if an officer fails to enter the required information.
The source material does not describe how often or in what format reports must be released.

Bill History

2025-06-10 Delaware General Assembly
Reported Out of Committee (Public Safety & Homeland Security) in House with 8 On Its Merits
2025-06-05 Delaware General Assembly
Introduced and Assigned to Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee in House

Official Summary Text

AN ACT AMENDING TITLE 21 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO TRAFFIC STOPS.
This Act requires officers to enter the primary reason for a traffic stop into DELJIS at the time of the stop. The Statistical Analysis Center will have access to the data for the purpose of analyzing traffic stop practices.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Rep. Romer & Rep. Gorman & Rep. Phillips & Sen. Pinkney

Reps. Burns, Morrison, Ross Levin

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 196

AN ACT AMENDING TITLE 21 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO TRAFFIC STOPS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

Section 1. Amend Chapter 7, Title 21 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 703B. Traffic stop data.

(a) Whenever a person is stopped under this title or § 5211 of Title 30, the law-enforcement officer must record in the Delaware Criminal Justice Information System (DELJIS) the following during or immediately after the conclusion of the stop:

(1) The time, date, and location of the stop.

(2) The primary reason for the stop.

(3) The reason for the stop communicated to the driver.

(b) The Statistical Analysis Center will have access to data collected under this section for the purpose of public reporting, oversight, and analysis related to traffic stop practices.

Section 2. This Act takes effect 60 days following its enactment into law.

SYNOPSIS

This Act requires officers to enter the primary reason for a traffic stop into DELJIS at the time of the stop. The Statistical Analysis Center will have access to the data for the purpose of analyzing traffic stop practices.