TEA Traffic Enforcement Agent Parking and Traffic Regulations 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A car is parked blocking a driveway with no sign, and the property owner requests it be ticketed. What should the TEA do?
- Issue a summons since blocking a driveway is a violation regardless of signage (Correct answer)
- Require the property owner to file a complaint before acting
- Do nothing unless a sign is posted prohibiting driveway obstruction
- Contact dispatch to confirm before issuing
Correct answer: Issue a summons since blocking a driveway is a violation regardless of signage
Blocking a private driveway is a parking violation by law; no additional signage is required for enforcement.
Question 2: How should a TEA document a vehicle that has no readable license plate when issuing a summons?
- Record all visible identifying information such as make, model, color, and VIN if visible (Correct answer)
- Skip issuance since without a plate the summons cannot be processed
- Issue a summons only after calling dispatch for plate verification
- Photograph the vehicle and submit a report without a summons
Correct answer: Record all visible identifying information such as make, model, color, and VIN if visible
When a plate is missing or unreadable, the TEA records all available vehicle identifiers to allow the summons to be matched later.
Question 3: What is the minimum distance a vehicle must maintain from a stop sign when parking?
- 30 feet (Correct answer)
- 10 feet
- 20 feet
- 15 feet
Correct answer: 30 feet
Most jurisdictions require vehicles to park at least 30 feet from a stop sign to preserve sight lines for drivers.
Question 4: A TEA discovers that a meter is broken and a car has been parked at it for two hours. What is the correct action?
- Do not issue a summons; note the broken meter and report it (Correct answer)
- Issue a summons since the vehicle must still follow time limits
- Move the vehicle to a working meter space
- Mark the vehicle's tire and return in one hour
Correct answer: Do not issue a summons; note the broken meter and report it
A malfunctioning meter is typically not the motorist's fault, so no summons is issued, but the meter must be reported for repair.
Question 5: Which document does a TEA use to track the number and type of summonses issued during a shift?
- A daily activity or summons log (Correct answer)
- The city's central traffic database accessed by phone
- A personal notebook with no official format
- The vehicle's registration record
Correct answer: A daily activity or summons log
TEAs maintain a daily activity log or summons log that records each summons issued, including location and violation type.
Question 6: An ambulance with lights and sirens active approaches an intersection where a TEA is directing traffic. What should the TEA do?
- Clear the intersection immediately to allow the emergency vehicle to pass (Correct answer)
- Maintain current traffic flow and let the ambulance navigate around
- Signal the ambulance to wait until the current cycle is complete
- Contact dispatch before altering traffic patterns
Correct answer: Clear the intersection immediately to allow the emergency vehicle to pass
Emergency vehicles with active lights and sirens have the right of way, and TEAs must immediately clear the path.
Question 7: A TEA observes a vehicle with diplomatic license plates parked in a no-parking zone. What is the appropriate action?
- Do not issue a summons; document the incident and report it per agency protocol (Correct answer)
- Issue a summons since diplomatic immunity does not apply to parking
- Call police before taking any action
- Issue a warning notice only
Correct answer: Do not issue a summons; document the incident and report it per agency protocol
Diplomatic vehicles are protected by diplomatic immunity from enforcement; TEAs document and report the incident but cannot issue a valid summons.
TEA Traffic Enforcement Agent Parking and Traffic Regulations 5
A car is parked blocking a driveway with no sign, and the property owner requests it be ticketed.
What should the TEA do?