Results from the 2001 Traffic Encounter Citizen Survey show young people are not as satisfied with police officers during traffic encounters as older citizens.

Young people between the ages of 16 and 29 who were surveyed reported a 63 percent satisfaction rate with their traffic encounter. This compared to an 83 percent satisfaction rate for people between the ages of 30 and 49, according to the survey released Tuesday.

The objective of the survey was to see if Lansing citizens felt they were being treated appropriately by police officers during traffic encounters. The result of the survey was compared to the previous survey conducted in 1999.

All respondents had received traffic violations in August 2001.

Lansing Police Lt. Ray Hall said stereotyping and bias may play a role in the relationship between youths and authority figures.

“There are biases on both sides,” Hall said.

Police officers may still hold on to the notion that young people lack respect for law enforcement and their community, and young people may believe that police officers target them, he said.

“The department is taking an initiative to better youth relations,” Hall said.

But apparel design sophomore Julia Solomon said she believes police do target younger people.

“I think that students have biases against police, but I think police are more biased,” Solomon said. “I would tell them to lay off us.”

Francisco Villarruel, assistant professor of family and child ecology, said young people may believe that when they take risks, law enforcement infringes on what they can and can’t do, affecting their lifestyles.

“It’s a freedom issue,” Villarruel said.

Another reason Villarruel believes youths are not as satisfied with traffic encounters is the feeling of invincibility young people have, which could lead to their dissatisfaction when encountering police.

He also believes young people don’t feel a connection to their community.

“Young people may feel as if their communities don’t respect them as individuals or their values or beliefs,” he said.

“Why would they follow rules they had no input on?”

Psychology freshman Kandice Quilter agreed.

“They should treat us more like adults, and with more respect,” Quilter said. “Sometimes they treat us like dogs.”

But not all students feel this way.

Hospitality business freshman Nick Moritz said he always treats police officers with respect.

“I think that cops are necessary and do a lot to protect us. They have a much harder job than people think,” Mortiz said.

State News intern Mark Hicks contributed to this report.