Meanings of investigatory stops in English

Where traffic safety stops are mostly painless (other than tickets), investigatory stops involve searches, impromptu interrogations, and occasionally handcuffs and weapons.

Where we see a difference-evenafter we adjust for driving time (on average, Blacks drive more and longer than Whites)-isin investigatory stops.

Sanctioned by courts and institutionalized in most police departments, investigatory stops are aimed at "suspicious" drivers and meant to stop crime, not traffic offenses.