State v. Segars

On February 15, 1999, Ridgewood Police Officer Douglas Williams issued defendant, Alan Segars, a summons for operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license. Throughout the proceedings below, Segars, an African-American, maintained that Officer Williams checked his license plates on a Mobile Data Terminal (MDT) because of his race. All parties agree that if that was the case, his action would have been impermissible. The issue presented is narrower: Should the trial court’s conclusion that Segars failed to sustain the burden of proving discriminatory targeting be sustained? Under the…