TCOLE Traffic Laws and Enforcement 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under Texas Transportation Code, a vehicle traveling on a roadway must pass a bicycle being operated in the same direction at a distance of at least:
- 2 feet
- 3 feet (Correct answer)
- 4 feet
- 6 feet
Correct answer: 3 feet
Texas law requires motor vehicles to pass bicycles with at least 3 feet of clearance when overtaking them in the same direction.
Question 2: In Texas, a driver convicted of DWI with a child passenger under 15 years old faces an enhanced charge of:
- DWI - Second Offense
- Intoxication Assault
- Child Endangerment - State Jail Felony
- DWI with Child Passenger - State Jail Felony (Correct answer)
Correct answer: DWI with Child Passenger - State Jail Felony
DWI with a passenger younger than 15 is a separate offense — a state jail felony — distinct from standard DWI charges.
Question 3: A Texas officer uses radar to clock a vehicle at 78 mph in a 70 mph zone. The officer's radar unit must be:
- Certified annually by DPS
- Calibrated by the manufacturer only
- Tested with a tuning fork before and after each shift (Correct answer)
- Certified by NIST every two years
Correct answer: Tested with a tuning fork before and after each shift
Traffic radar units in Texas should be verified with a calibrated tuning fork at the start and end of each shift to ensure accuracy.
Question 4: Texas law prohibits operating a motor vehicle on a highway while using a handheld mobile device to read, write, or send an electronic message. This offense is classified as:
- A Class A misdemeanor
- A Class C misdemeanor (Correct answer)
- A state jail felony if an accident results
- A moving violation with automatic license suspension
Correct answer: A Class C misdemeanor
Texting while driving is a Class C misdemeanor under Texas Transportation Code §545.4251, with enhanced penalties if it causes serious injury or death.
Question 5: Under Texas law, a driver approaching an intersection controlled by a steady red arrow signal intending to turn right may:
- Proceed after yielding, as a red arrow allows right turns
- Not turn until the signal shows a green arrow or green circle (Correct answer)
- Turn after stopping if no sign prohibits it
- Turn at 5 mph without stopping
Correct answer: Not turn until the signal shows a green arrow or green circle
A steady red arrow prohibits the turn in the indicated direction; drivers must wait for a permissive green signal unless a sign specifically permits turning on red.
Question 6: When a Texas officer suspects a driver is under the influence of drugs rather than alcohol, which specialized testing protocol should be requested?
- Standard Field Sobriety Test (SFST) battery only
- Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) evaluation (Correct answer)
- Passive alcohol sensor screening
- Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus test alone
Correct answer: Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) evaluation
A Drug Recognition Expert evaluation follows a 12-step protocol to identify specific drug categories causing impairment when alcohol is not the suspected intoxicant.
Question 7: Under Texas Transportation Code, what is the maximum speed limit for a vehicle towing a trailer on an interstate highway unless otherwise posted?
- 70 mph
- 65 mph (Correct answer)
- 60 mph
- 55 mph
Correct answer: 65 mph
Texas sets a maximum speed of 65 mph for vehicles towing trailers on interstate highways, lower than the 70–75 mph limits that may apply to passenger cars.
TCOLE Traffic Laws and Enforcement 5
Under Texas Transportation Code, a vehicle traveling on a roadway must pass a bicycle being operated in the same direction at a distance of at least: