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HB196 • 2025

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

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 official source does not specify how often or when the Statistical Analysis Center will review the data.

Traffic Stop Data Recording Act

This act requires police officers in Delaware to record the main reason for a traffic stop and allows a special center to review this information.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires police officers to enter why they stopped a car into DELJIS at the time of or immediately after the stop.
  • Police must also note when, where, and what reason was given to the driver for the stop.
  • The Statistical Analysis Center can access this information for analysis.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Law enforcement officers who make traffic stops in Delaware.
  • Drivers who get pulled over by police in Delaware.

Terms To Know

DELJIS
Delaware Criminal Justice Information System, a computer system used to store information about criminal justice activities.
Statistical Analysis Center
A special center that looks at data and statistics related to law enforcement practices in Delaware.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify the consequences for officers who do not comply with the new requirements.
  • It is unclear how often or when the Statistical Analysis Center will review the data.
  • There are no details on public access to this information.

Bill History

  1. 2025-06-10 Delaware General Assembly

    Reported Out of Committee (Public Safety & Homeland Security) in House with 8 On Its Merits

  2. 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.