'PROFILING' BILL HITS MAJOR SNAG

SACRAMENTO -- A controversial bill aimed at ending ``racial profiling'' in
police traffic stops hit a major snag in the state Senate on Thursday,
raising questions about whether the Legislature will do anything to address
the issue this year.

The proposal would require police officers to give out business cards to
those they detain in a traffic stop but d not cite or arrest. It also would
require that officers be trained about diversity and racial profiling.

Though the bill passed the Assembly earlier this month, a Senate committee
hearing was postponed Thursday after opposition arose from key senators who
don't think it goes far enough.

The measure's author, Sen. Kevin Murray, D-Culver City, said he is now
considering amending the plan before the Legislature adjourns for the year
on Thursday.

``I have not given up,'' he said.

For years, Murray, other legislators and many civil rights advocates have
complained about what they believe to be pervasive, blatant discrimination
in traffic stops.

But last year, Gov. Gray Davis vetoed a Murray bill that would have required
police agencies to collect data on the race or ethnicity of individuals
stopped and whether a citation was issued. Davis said it was questionable
whether such data would provide any more meaningful information than what
was currently available.

In April, Davis and Murray announced the business card compromise.

Some civil rights groups called the plan ineffective and even meaningless.
Meanwhile, some police agencies have been voluntarily collecting data on
those they stop.