The state police force has since made great strides to end racial profiling. But the Justice Department ought to be prepared to step back in, if there is ever any evidence that troopers have returned to their old, bad habits. The public must have complete trust that the system will root out any rogue behavior by police.

New Jersey made national headlines in 1998, after two white troopers fired into a van carrying four unarmed minority men on the turnpike, wounding three. The incident explained to the world what it meant to be "driving while black." A year later, the state voluntarily agreed to federal monitoring, admitting that troopers routinely and illegally targeted minority motorists based primarily on the color of their skin.

Then-Attorney General Peter Verniero said racial profiling was "real, not imagined." Since then, the state has spent more than $137 million to change an entrenched culture that made racial profiling standard procedure. Installing dashboard cameras in all patrol cars has helped to significantly cut profiling complaints.

Even federal officials say they believe New Jersey has turned the corner. Citing improved training and supervision, they called the department a model of law enforcement. They said state police have met all provisions of the consent decree, and are now ready to take on the task of monitoring themselves. An advisory committee on police standards recommended changing the oversight a year ago. The final decision to lift the consent agreement rests with a federal judge.

Moorestown attorney Bill Buckman, who successfully sued the state police over racial profiling, worries that they could slip back into that practice without federal scrutiny. After all, the troopers then and now are under the supervision of the state Attorney General's Office, which seemed to turn a blind eye years ago when racial profiling was allowed to fester.

A bill passed last week by the Legislature includes many of the changes that were part of the consent decree. The new law also requires an independent monitor, and mandates reports every six months and regular audits by the state comptroller to ensure compliance.

Statistics on traffic stops by state troopers will be collected regularly to more easily detect whether a pattern of minorities being disproportionately stopped or searched by police is evident.

In 2003, New Jersey made it illegal for police officers to stop motorists based solely on race or ethnicity. But that alone is no guarantee it won't happen. While safeguards have been installed to end racial profiling by state troopers, most municipal police officers don't have to fear that degree of scrutiny. Consequently, "driving while black" can still get you stopped in some towns.