Sen. Kevin Murray, D-Los Angeles, pulled his bill from a committee hearing Tuesday morning, frustrating civil rights advocates who were prepared to testify that the compromise plan is worse than no legislation at all. The newspaper reported that by fashioning a compromise with the governor, Murray has lost support from leading Democrats. Attorney General Bill Lockyer gave notice Monday that he also was withdrawing his support. Editorials appearing in several California newspapers have opposed the compromise measure as inadequate. Civil rights groups are urging legislators in California and at least 20 other states to pass legislation that would force law enforcement officers to record the race of motorists that they stop.
Advocates say minorities are routinely pulled over only because of the color of their skin.
Davis vetoed a bill by Murray last year that would have required such record keeping by local law enforcement agencies. Since then, police chiefs in Stockton, Sacramento and dozens of other California cities have voluntarily started data collection. Murray's new bill would require peace officers to hand out business cards to the people they stop, which he said will make them think twice about singling out minorities or treating residents rudely. The bill would also lead to training on racial profiling. The Record reported that Murray said he understands why some civil rights group oppose the legislation, but their argument should be with Davis, not him.