By Nicolas Perez for LAist
Originally published on May 7, 2026
Topline:
The L.A. City Council voted Wednesday to ban the Los Angeles Police Department’s use of pretextual stops, in which officers detain or pull over a person for a minor offense in order to investigate the them for a more serious crime.
Context: Civil rights activists have long said that pretextual stops disproportionately affect communities of color, an argument that data backs up. In 2022, the Police Commission updated LAPD policy to require officers making a pretextual stop to turn on their body cameras and explain why they plan to pull a car over or stop a pedestrian.
Yes, but: The City Council’s proposal does not immediately change LAPD policy. The Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners, which sets department policies, will ultimately decide if the practice should be banned. LAPD leaders have said in the past that eliminating pretextual stops could diminish the department’s ability to detect illegal activity.
