Police Test Police Test Traffic Enforcement 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When an officer stops a vehicle for a traffic violation, the safest initial approach is from:
- The driver's door, standing directly beside it
- The rear of the vehicle on the driver's side, staying out of direct view until reaching the B-pillar (Correct answer)
- Directly in front of the vehicle to face the driver
- The passenger side in all situations
Correct answer: The rear of the vehicle on the driver's side, staying out of direct view until reaching the B-pillar
Approaching from the rear keeps the officer out of the driver's immediate view and away from traffic while allowing observation of occupants before reaching the window.
Question 2: Under most state laws, the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for non-commercial adult drivers is:
- 0.10%
- 0.08% or 0.08 g/dL (Correct answer)
- 0.05%
- 0.12%
Correct answer: 0.08% or 0.08 g/dL
In the US, the legal BAC limit for non-commercial adult drivers is 0.08% (or 0.08 g/dL) in all 50 states.
Question 3: The standard field sobriety tests (SFSTs) approved by NHTSA include which of the following?
- Finger-to-nose, alphabet recitation, and balance stand
- Horizontal gaze nystagmus, walk-and-turn, and one-leg stand (Correct answer)
- Breathalyzer, blood draw, and urine sample
- Counting backward, following a pen, and heel-to-toe walk
Correct answer: Horizontal gaze nystagmus, walk-and-turn, and one-leg stand
NHTSA's three standardized field sobriety tests are the horizontal gaze nystagmus (HGN), walk-and-turn, and one-leg stand.
Question 4: An officer observes a vehicle with an expired registration sticker. This gives the officer:
- No authority to stop the vehicle
- Probable cause to arrest the driver immediately
- Reasonable suspicion to initiate a traffic stop (Correct answer)
- Authority to impound the vehicle without stopping it
Correct answer: Reasonable suspicion to initiate a traffic stop
An expired registration is a traffic violation that gives an officer reasonable suspicion (sufficient for a traffic stop) to investigate further.
Question 5: A driver involved in a non-injury traffic accident must typically:
- Leave the scene immediately to avoid blocking traffic
- Exchange information with the other driver and report to police if required by state law (Correct answer)
- Wait for police regardless of damage amount
- Only notify their insurance company — no police report is needed
Correct answer: Exchange information with the other driver and report to police if required by state law
Drivers must exchange information (license, insurance, registration) and comply with state laws on reporting, which typically require police notification above a damage threshold.
Question 6: When directing traffic at an intersection, the officer's primary communication tools are:
- Radio and traffic cones
- Hand signals and whistle (Correct answer)
- Flares and written signs
- Traffic lights and sirens
Correct answer: Hand signals and whistle
Officers directing traffic use standardized hand signals to indicate stop, go, and turn, along with a whistle to draw attention and signal transitions.
Police Test Police Test Traffic Enforcement 1
When an officer stops a vehicle for a traffic violation, the safest initial approach is from: