FREE State Trooper Reading Comprehension and Reasoning Questions and Answers

Question 1

Read the following departmental policy excerpt:

**General Order 2024-08: Use of Mobile Data Terminals (MDTs)**
"The use of MDTs is restricted to official law enforcement duties. This includes, but is not limited to, accessing criminal justice databases, communicating with dispatch, filing reports, and viewing departmental bulletins. Any brief, incidental use that does not interfere with assigned duties, does not incur cost to the department, and is not for commercial gain may be permissible, subject to supervisor discretion."

Trooper Allen is posted at a stationary traffic control point for a road closure. After two hours with no incidents, he uses his MDT to check the weather forecast for his patrol area for the remainder of his shift. According to General Order 2024-08, which of the following best describes Trooper Allen's action?

Accepted Answer

Permissible, as it is a brief, incidental use related to duty conditions that does not interfere with his post.

Answer

A clear violation, as checking the weather is not an enumerated law enforcement duty.

Answer

A violation, because he did not receive prior supervisor approval for the action.

Answer

Permissible, but only if he files a report documenting the non-official use of the MDT.

Question 2

A Trooper is investigating a hit-and-run in a parking lot and gathers the following statements:

*   **Witness #1:** "I saw a dark green sedan, maybe a Honda, with a large dent in the passenger door hit the car. The driver was a man with a red hat."
*   **Witness #2:** "I heard the crash and saw a dark-colored car speeding away. I'm sure it was a Toyota, and the driver was wearing a baseball cap. I got a partial license plate: 'LPR-7'."

The Trooper's query of the partial plate reveals a potential match: a dark green Honda Accord registered to a woman living two blocks away. Based on this information, which statement represents the most significant challenge the Trooper must address in the investigation?

Accepted Answer

The vehicle most closely matching the evidence is registered to a woman, but both witnesses described a male driver.

Answer

The two witnesses disagree on the exact make of the sedan (Honda vs. Toyota).

Answer

One witness described a 'red hat' while the other said 'baseball cap'.

Answer

The partial license plate only provides a possible match, not a definite one.

Question 3

Read the following excerpt from a state vehicle code:

**Section 40-6-49. Following Too Closely.**
"(a) The driver of a motor vehicle shall not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard for the speed of such vehicles and the traffic upon and the condition of the highway."

A Trooper observes a commercial truck traveling 65 mph in a 70 mph zone on a dry, clear, uncongested interstate. The truck is approximately 150 feet behind the car in front of it. Safety guidelines suggest a following distance of at least four seconds for commercial vehicles, which at this speed is over 350 feet. Based *only* on the text of Section 40-6-49, what is the strongest basis for a traffic stop?

Accepted Answer

The Trooper can justify a stop because the distance could be articulated as not 'reasonable and prudent' given the vehicle's size and speed.

Answer

The driver has not violated the statute because the road is uncongested and dry.

Answer

No stop can be made unless the Trooper first measures the exact distance with a laser device.

Answer

The driver has clearly violated the statute because 150 feet is less than the recommended safety guideline distance.

Question 4

At 2:00 AM, a Trooper observes a vehicle parked behind a closed business in an area known for burglaries. The Trooper pulls in behind the vehicle without activating emergency lights. As the Trooper approaches on foot, the driver shoves an object under the passenger seat. The Trooper asks the driver for identification, but the driver refuses and asks if he is being detained. The Trooper then orders the driver out of the vehicle. Which piece of information initially justified the Trooper's decision to conduct a consensual encounter?

Accepted Answer

The vehicle being parked behind a closed business in a high-crime area.

Answer

The driver's furtive movement of shoving an object under the seat.

Answer

The driver's refusal to provide identification.

Answer

The Trooper did not have justification to initiate an encounter.

Question 5

An internal memo outlines the procedure for submitting evidence: "All evidence must be properly packaged. Each item must have a completed evidence tag (Form 901) securely attached, detailing the case number, item number, date/time of collection, and collecting officer's name. Before the end of shift, the evidence must be logged into the digital tracking system. The officer must then physically deposit the item into the appropriate temporary evidence locker and secure the locker. The key for that specific locker is then deposited into the master key drop box." Which of the following actions would be a violation of this procedure?

Accepted Answer

The Trooper waits until the following morning to log the collected evidence into the digital system.

Answer

The Trooper asks a partner to witness the collection of high-value evidence.

Answer

The Trooper places two small, related items into a single evidence bag.

Answer

The Trooper deposits the evidence locker key into the drop box immediately after securing the locker.

Question 6

A Trooper receives a BOLO ("Be On the Lookout") alert that reads: "Attempt to locate a silver 2022 Ford F-150, license plate 7B4-NKL. Vehicle may be occupied by a white male, approx. 30 years old, brown hair, armed with a handgun. Subject is wanted for questioning in relation to an armed robbery. Use caution." An hour later, the Trooper spots a silver 2021 Ford F-150 with the license plate 7B4-NKL, driven by a white male who appears to be in his 30s. What is the most reasonable interpretation of the situation?

Accepted Answer

The totality of matching identifiers provides sufficient reasonable suspicion to initiate a traffic stop.

Answer

The information is unreliable due to the model year discrepancy, so no action should be taken.

Answer

The Trooper must visually confirm the driver has brown hair before initiating a stop.

Answer

The Trooper should disregard the vehicle, as the BOLO specified a 2022 model, not a 2021.