Selected Nevada law enforcement officers participated in the mandatory collection of traffic stop data in the calendar year 2002. The requirement was a temporary one-year study mandated by the 2001 Nevada Legislature. The primary objective of this paper is to provide insight into the behavioral response of law enforcement with respect to mandatory data collection. Data for this study was obtained from the use of a self-administered mail survey from law enforcement officers from five of the nine Nevada police agencies required to collect traffic stop data. Responses from 399 Nevada law enforcement officers surveyed (A response rate of 65 percent) serve as the basis for this study. The findings of this project confirmed a causal relationship between mandatory data collection and a reduced level of traffic enforcement. Findings also included the belief of Nevada law enforcement officers that mandatory data collection will not improve police-minority group relations. Another significant finding with respect to the extent of racial profiling in Nevada was that a number of respondents (29 percent) reported varying levels of profiling by other officers
