NORTH CAROLINA – Protests are once again happening across the country.
This time, they follow the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin. In recent months, there have been other shootings during traffic stops in several states across the country, gaining national attention.
Many people are now looking for answers in the effort to bridge the gap between law enforcement and the Black community. That has been the goal of Jackie Carter, a former court reporter and mother, for the last four years.
Ever since the shooting of Philando Castile, Carter has been trying to improve public interaction with law enforcement. She created the Alliance for Safe Traffic Stops (ASTS), which offers training and products for drivers that teach them how to safely handle police traffic stops.
Carter sat down with Spectrum News 1 anchor Caroline Blair for a look at the work her organization is doing. She says she created it after worrying about her own son who is a Black veteran who legally carries a gun.
She says they created the Not Reaching Pouch after hearing from law enforcement officers that people reaching during a traffic stop is their biggest concern. The pouch is a place for drivers to put their driver's license, insurance card, and registration so they don’t have to reach for items they need during a stop. She believes this pouch could help save lives.
For more information, check these links about the organization or the Not Reaching Pouch.