Md. Police Agree to $400K Settlement in Racial Profiling Suit

The Maryland State Police Department has agreed to pay $400,000 to settle a 10-year-old lawsuit that contends it engaged in racial profiling of motorists.

The department will pay $300,000 to six plaintiffs who remain in the litigation and will spend up to $100,000 to hire a consultant to examine whether its practices have eliminated racial profiling, the Washington Post reports.

The police department collects information on the race of motorists who are stopped by police and gives the drivers a brochure explaining how to file a complaint about improper tactics. The changes were adopted as part of a 2003 agreement settling major parts of the suit.

The law firm of Hogan & Hartson has devoted more than 5,000 pro bono hours to the suit, partner Martin Price told the Post.