Los Angeles Criminal Defense Firm

Driving While Brown (DWB)

Similar to the phrase, "driving while black," driving while brown is a term used to describe the racial profiling of Mexicans, Hispanics or Latinos.

In other words, the term driving while brown refers to the immoral and/or illegal actions that law enforcement agencies are suspected of taking against those who look like they may be of Hispanic descent. The term "driving while brown" can be used to describe any instance in which certain individuals are targeted for arrests, detentions, traffic stops, interrogations and searches that are not based on evidence of any actual criminal activities, but rather due to preconceptions associated with their race.

Recently, the term "driving while Mexican" has even been used to describe the actions of police and immigration officers who make illegal traffic stops for the sole purpose of determining whether or not that person is a legal resident of the United States. If you believe that you have been unfairly targeted by the police due to your nationality, it is important to understand that you have rights. Contact a Los Angeles defense lawyer at Stephen G. Rodriguez & Partners to learn more about your legal options.