MTA Police 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A person reports their car stolen 3 days ago. The officer should:
- Refuse the report since it is too late
- Take the report and enter the vehicle into NCIC (Correct answer)
- Issue a ticket to the complainant for delayed reporting
- Only take the report if a suspect is identified
Correct answer: Take the report and enter the vehicle into NCIC
Officers must take theft reports and enter stolen vehicles into the National Crime Information Center database.
Question 2: Which amendment protects citizens against unreasonable searches and seizures?
- First Amendment
- Second Amendment
- Fourth Amendment (Correct answer)
- Fifth Amendment
Correct answer: Fourth Amendment
The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects against unreasonable searches and seizures.
Question 3: An officer stops a vehicle for a traffic violation and smells burnt marijuana. This gives the officer:
- No additional authority beyond issuing a traffic ticket
- Probable cause to search the vehicle (Correct answer)
- Authority to arrest all occupants immediately
- Reason to impound the vehicle automatically
Correct answer: Probable cause to search the vehicle
The smell of marijuana emanating from a vehicle can establish probable cause for a vehicle search.
Question 4: When writing an incident report, officers should use language that is:
- Subjective and opinion-based
- Technical jargon to impress the court
- Clear, factual, and objective (Correct answer)
- Vague to allow for interpretation later
Correct answer: Clear, factual, and objective
Police reports must be factual and objective to accurately document events and withstand legal scrutiny.
Question 5: What does 'exigent circumstances' allow officers to do?
- Use excessive force without accountability
- Enter a premises without a warrant in emergency situations (Correct answer)
- Ignore Miranda warnings permanently
- Make arrests without any evidence
Correct answer: Enter a premises without a warrant in emergency situations
Exigent circumstances allow warrantless entry when there is an immediate threat to life or risk of evidence destruction.
Question 6: An officer is dispatched to a 'man with a gun' call. Upon arrival, the subject is calm and unarmed. The officer should:
- Leave immediately since no gun is visible
- Detain and briefly investigate to determine if a crime occurred (Correct answer)
- Arrest the subject for the caller's report
- Only take action if the caller is present
Correct answer: Detain and briefly investigate to determine if a crime occurred
Officers should conduct a brief investigatory stop to determine the circumstances even when the immediate threat has dissipated.
Question 7: The Terry v. Ohio Supreme Court decision established an officer's right to:
- Search a home without a warrant at any time
- Stop and frisk a person based on reasonable articulable suspicion (Correct answer)
- Arrest someone based on an anonymous tip alone
- Use deadly force to stop fleeing misdemeanor suspects
Correct answer: Stop and frisk a person based on reasonable articulable suspicion
Terry v. Ohio (1968) established that officers may conduct brief stops and pat-downs based on reasonable articulable suspicion.
MTA Police 3
A person reports their car stolen 3 days ago.
The officer should: