Certified Transportation Security Administration Driver Evidence Collection & Preservation 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the purpose of using tamper-evident evidence bags?
- To make evidence bags waterproof
- To visually show if a bag has been opened or altered after sealing (Correct answer)
- To allow evidence to breathe during storage
- To color-code different types of evidence
Correct answer: To visually show if a bag has been opened or altered after sealing
Tamper-evident bags display visible signs of tampering, ensuring the integrity of evidence from collection through court presentation.
Question 2: At an incident scene, a TSA driver finds both physical and digital evidence. Which should generally be collected first?
- Digital evidence, because it can be remotely wiped (Correct answer)
- Physical evidence closest to the vehicle
- The most visually obvious evidence
- Evidence furthest from the incident center
Correct answer: Digital evidence, because it can be remotely wiped
Digital evidence can be remotely deleted or altered, so it should be prioritized and secured before physical evidence collection begins.
Question 3: When labeling an evidence bag, which information is LEAST critical to include?
- Date and time of collection
- Name of the officer collecting evidence
- The collector's personal opinion about the evidence (Correct answer)
- Location where evidence was found
Correct answer: The collector's personal opinion about the evidence
Personal opinions are not factual documentation and have no place on an evidence label, which must contain only objective identifying information.
Question 4: Why is it important for a TSA transportation driver NOT to handle a suspicious package with bare hands?
- It is against company policy for liability reasons
- Bare hands can contaminate evidence and potentially expose the handler to hazardous materials (Correct answer)
- Gloves make the package easier to grip
- Regulations require gloves only for heavy packages
Correct answer: Bare hands can contaminate evidence and potentially expose the handler to hazardous materials
Bare hands can transfer DNA and oils that contaminate forensic evidence, and may expose the handler to chemical, biological, or explosive hazards.
Question 5: A surveillance camera captures footage of an incident near a TSA vehicle. Who is responsible for preserving this footage?
- The TSA driver should download it immediately
- Security or law enforcement personnel should formally request and preserve it through proper channels (Correct answer)
- The camera owner may delete it after 24 hours if no one claims it
- Any employee who witnessed the incident
Correct answer: Security or law enforcement personnel should formally request and preserve it through proper channels
Digital footage must be formally requested and preserved by authorized security or law enforcement personnel to maintain chain of custody.
Question 6: How should a TSA driver handle biological evidence (such as blood) found at a scene?
- Collect it in a plastic sealed bag immediately
- Do not touch it — isolate the area and wait for trained personnel (Correct answer)
- Clean it up using standard sanitizing supplies
- Cover it with a cloth to protect it from weather
Correct answer: Do not touch it — isolate the area and wait for trained personnel
Biological evidence requires specialized collection by trained personnel using proper PPE and collection methods to ensure safety and preserve integrity.
Question 7: What does 'cross-contamination' mean in the context of evidence collection?
- Mixing evidence from different cases or allowing one piece of evidence to affect another (Correct answer)
- Storing evidence from multiple scenes in the same vehicle
- Using the same documentation form for two incidents
- Cross-referencing evidence between two investigators
Correct answer: Mixing evidence from different cases or allowing one piece of evidence to affect another
Cross-contamination occurs when material from one evidence source transfers to another, potentially corrupting forensic results.
Certified Transportation Security Administration Driver Evidence Collection & Preservation 3
What is the purpose of using tamper-evident evidence bags?