Race on tickets explained

Gus Philpott
Woodstock Advocate
April 2, 2011

Recently there has been considerable challenge to the situation that faces a deputy or other law enforcement officer who issues a ticket to a driver. How is he supposed to record the driver's race?

OK, so here is the back of a ticket. (Click on the image to enlarge it; then click on the Back button on your browser to come back here.)

The deputy sheriff (or other police officer) is required by state law to fill out this section of a ticket anytime he (or she) stops a vehicle with probable cause that a violation has been committed.

The officer must make a subjective decision based on training, experience, education and COMMON SENSE as to which category the person receiving the citation best represents.

The choices that are available on the ticket are the only choices a police officer can and may consider. There is no "write in" choice. (Like on a election ballot for example)

The only choices are Caucasian, African American, Native American/Alaskan, Hispanic, and Asian/Pacific Islander.

Training at the McHenry County Sheriff's Department includes this admonition: "If you knowingly misrepresent the race of the person receiving the citation on the ticket, it is PERJURY and, if you misrepresent to cover up another act, it is OFFICIAL MISCONDUCT.

Perjury and official misconduct are felonies.