TEA Traffic Enforcement Agent Information Ordering and Procedures 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When completing a summons, what information should a Traffic Enforcement Agent record FIRST?
- The vehicle's license plate number
- The date and time of the violation (Correct answer)
- The officer's badge number
- The fine amount
Correct answer: The date and time of the violation
The date and time of the violation is recorded first to establish when the infraction occurred, which is essential for legal validity.
Question 2: If a vehicle owner returns while a TEA is issuing a summons, the agent should:
- Cancel the summons immediately
- Continue completing the summons as normal (Correct answer)
- Ask the owner to move the vehicle before finishing
- Contact a supervisor before proceeding
Correct answer: Continue completing the summons as normal
Once a summons has been initiated, the TEA must complete it regardless of the owner's return, as the violation has already occurred.
Question 3: A TEA notices a vehicle with an expired registration parked legally. What is the correct procedure?
- Ignore it since the vehicle is legally parked
- Issue a summons for expired registration (Correct answer)
- Call for a tow truck immediately
- Leave a warning notice only
Correct answer: Issue a summons for expired registration
An expired registration is a citable violation regardless of whether the vehicle is otherwise legally parked.
Question 4: When logging information about a violation, which sequence is most appropriate?
- Vehicle description, plate, location, violation, time
- Plate, location, time, vehicle description, violation
- Location, time, plate, vehicle description, violation (Correct answer)
- Violation, time, plate, location, vehicle description
Correct answer: Location, time, plate, vehicle description, violation
Recording location and time first anchors the incident geographically and temporally before identifying the vehicle and specific infraction.
Question 5: Which vehicle information is least critical to record when issuing a parking summons?
- License plate number
- State of vehicle registration
- Vehicle color
- Odometer reading (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Odometer reading
Odometer readings are not accessible to TEAs from outside the vehicle and are not required for parking summons.
Question 6: A TEA finds a summons book that is nearly full. The agent should:
- Stop writing summonses until a new book is received
- Continue using the book and skip numbers if needed
- Request a new book and continue using the current one until exhausted (Correct answer)
- Return all unused summonses to dispatch
Correct answer: Request a new book and continue using the current one until exhausted
The agent should request a replacement book promptly while continuing to use the current book until it is fully used to avoid gaps in enforcement.
Question 7: When a TEA must void a summons, which step is required?
- Destroy all copies of the summons
- Mark all copies 'VOID' and submit them according to agency procedures (Correct answer)
- Only mark the top copy void and keep the others
- Report the void verbally to a supervisor only
Correct answer: Mark all copies 'VOID' and submit them according to agency procedures
All copies of a voided summons must be marked 'VOID' and submitted through proper channels to maintain accurate records.
TEA Traffic Enforcement Agent Information Ordering and Procedures 2
When completing a summons, what information should a Traffic Enforcement Agent record FIRST?