Fully Free Means Free to Move

The Free2Move Coalition is leading the drive to end pretextual traffic stops that disproportionately target Black and Latine people in Chicago, including drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians. As a Free2Move Coalition Member, the Illinois Coalition to End Permanent Punishments has a direct interest in supporting this measure because these stops occur at higher rates compared to white neighbors and can escalate to harm and death, despite a lack of evidence that they decrease traffic violence or violent crime. In the Policy Corner, consistent with my objective, I aim to educate you about efforts in Illinois that proactively eliminate permanent punishments and advances the concept of being Fully Free.

The Free2Move Coalition is a citywide coalition working to fundamentally shift how Chicago approaches traffic safety and public safety. Free2Move brings together community organizations, policy advocates, and directly impacted leaders to end pretextual traffic stops and replace them with approaches that actually keep people safe without criminalizing everyday movement. At its core, Free2Move challenges the long-standing assumption that armed police stops are necessary to address minor traffic violations, particularly when the data shows these practices disproportionately target Black and Latine people while failing to reduce traffic violence or violent crime.

The research makes clear that pretextual stops are not neutral enforcement tools. They are a primary entry point into the criminal legal system, especially for Black and Latine Chicagoans, and they carry real risks. Routine stops for low-level or non-safety-related violations frequently escalate into searches, citations, arrests, and in some cases serious injury or death. These outcomes are not accidental. They are the predictable result of policies that rely on enforcement rather than prevention, and punishment rather than care.

Free2Move advances a different vision of safety. The coalition supports policies that limit police involvement in minor traffic enforcement, expand the use of non-police responses, and invest in proven traffic safety strategies such as street design, speed management, and community-based solutions. This approach reduces harmful police encounters while improving safety outcomes for everyone, particularly people who walk, bike, or rely on public transportation.

As a member of the Free2Move Coalition, the Illinois Coalition to End Permanent Punishments supports this work because pretextual traffic stops are often the first step toward lifelong consequences. A single stop can lead to fines, license suspensions, criminal records, and cascading barriers to employment, housing, and stability. Ending these stops is a proactive way to prevent permanent punishments before they take hold and to move Illinois closer to a vision of justice where safety does not come at the cost of dignity, freedom, or life itself.

In this Policy Corner, my goal is to highlight how efforts like Free2Move align with a broader movement to eliminate permanent punishments and advance the idea of being Fully Free. True safety is not built through surveillance and enforcement. It is built through policies that allow people to move through their communities without fear, harm, or lifelong consequences for minor, everyday actions.

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