TEA Traffic Enforcement Agent Information Ordering and Procedures 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A TEA is ordered by a supervisor to skip enforcing a particular block. If the TEA believes this is improper, the correct action is to:
- Follow the order without question
- Refuse the order and enforce the block anyway
- Follow the order and document it, reporting concerns through official channels (Correct answer)
- Immediately contact Internal Affairs
Correct answer: Follow the order and document it, reporting concerns through official channels
Complying while documenting and reporting through proper channels protects the agent legally and initiates the correct oversight process.
Question 2: Which scenario requires a TEA to immediately notify dispatch?
- Issuing a routine parking summons
- Discovering a vehicle that appears to have been in an accident (Correct answer)
- Observing a vehicle with expired registration
- Completing an end-of-shift report
Correct answer: Discovering a vehicle that appears to have been in an accident
An accident-damaged vehicle may involve injury, a crime, or a safety hazard requiring immediate response from other agencies.
Question 3: When recording vehicle color on a summons and the vehicle is two-toned, the TEA should:
- Record only the primary/dominant color
- Record both colors in the color field (Correct answer)
- Leave the field blank if uncertain
- Record 'multi-color' only
Correct answer: Record both colors in the color field
Both colors should be documented to accurately describe the vehicle and reduce the chance of misidentification.
Question 4: A TEA must testify about a summons at an adjudication hearing. The agent should rely primarily on:
- Memory of the event
- Notes and the summons copy taken at the time of the violation (Correct answer)
- Statements from bystanders
- Photographs taken by other officers
Correct answer: Notes and the summons copy taken at the time of the violation
Contemporary notes and the summons itself are the most reliable and legally credible sources for testimony.
Question 5: A TEA is on patrol and receives a non-emergency question from a civilian about directions. The agent should:
- Ignore the civilian and continue patrol
- Briefly assist the civilian without neglecting enforcement duties (Correct answer)
- Provide full assistance regardless of how long it takes
- Direct the civilian to the nearest police officer only
Correct answer: Briefly assist the civilian without neglecting enforcement duties
Brief public assistance is part of community relations, but enforcement duties remain the primary responsibility and must not be neglected.
Question 6: When a TEA issues summonses in a school zone, what additional information may be required on the summons?
- The name of the nearest school
- The school zone designation and applicable enhanced penalty notation (Correct answer)
- Signatures from school staff witnesses
- The vehicle owner's driver's license number
Correct answer: The school zone designation and applicable enhanced penalty notation
School zone violations often carry enhanced penalties that must be noted on the summons for proper adjudication.
Question 7: A TEA finds a vehicle parked legally but discovers the registration was reported stolen. The correct action is to:
- Issue a parking summons and move on
- Do not touch the vehicle; notify dispatch and await instructions (Correct answer)
- Attempt to contact the registered owner directly
- Place a wheel boot on the vehicle immediately
Correct answer: Do not touch the vehicle; notify dispatch and await instructions
A stolen registration plate involves a criminal matter beyond TEA authority; the situation must be reported to dispatch and handled by police.
TEA Traffic Enforcement Agent Information Ordering and Procedures 5
A TEA is ordered by a supervisor to skip enforcing a particular block.
If the TEA believes this is improper, the correct action is to: