N.A.A.C.P. leaders and others say the issue goes far beyond Trumbull, insisting that black and Hispanic motorists are targeted in suburban towns and rural areas across the country.

The United States Justice Department is investigating allegations that white troopers targeted black and Hispanic motorists for stops along New Jersey's highways.

Initially the unrest was characterized by interracial mob violence, with white and hispanic motorists being dragged from their vehicles and beaten by black gangs.

He was also questioned at length, the lawyers said, about his handling of allegations that state troopers had routinely singled out black and Hispanic motorists on the state's roadways.

For decades, black and Hispanic motorists have complained that state troopers have subjected them to traffic stops and illegal searches for no reason other than the color of their skin.

The Barkhamsted Express, the practice of stopping black and Hispanic motorists passing through town on Route 44, exists.

And just like the practice of pulling over and harassing perfectly innocent black and Hispanic motorists on streets and highways in many parts of the country.

The lawmakers and civil rights leaders hope to demonstrate to the public the wide range of black and Hispanic motorists who have complained of mistreatment at the hands of white troopers.

In addition, the suspended cases have prevented two defense lawyers from getting documents they want to examine for evidence that the state police singled out black and Hispanic motorists in their search for drug traffickers.

Most striking are police records that show that black and Hispanic motorists, who make up 30 percent of the drivers on the turnpike, were subjected to more than 80 percent of the searches.