TEA Traffic Enforcement Agent Summons Issuance Procedures 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A TEA is assigned to a school zone. During school hours, what additional restriction typically applies to parking enforcement?
- TEAs have no authority in school zones during school hours
- School zone regulations may impose stricter no-parking or no-stopping rules during specific drop-off and pick-up windows (Correct answer)
- Only school safety agents may issue summonses in school zones
- TEAs must obtain parental consent before issuing a summons near a school
Correct answer: School zone regulations may impose stricter no-parking or no-stopping rules during specific drop-off and pick-up windows
School zones often have time-restricted no-parking or no-stopping rules during school hours that TEAs must enforce in addition to standard regulations.
Question 2: When must a TEA void a summons that has already been issued?
- When a supervisor requests it for any reason
- When the vehicle was legally parked and the summons was issued in error (Correct answer)
- When the vehicle owner presents a valid parking permit after the summons was written
- When the vehicle owner becomes verbally aggressive
Correct answer: When the vehicle was legally parked and the summons was issued in error
A summons should be voided only when it was issued in error, such as when the vehicle was in fact legally parked or exempt from the restriction.
Question 3: A parked vehicle has an expired registration sticker. Which agency is primarily responsible for issuing a summons for this violation?
- Traffic Enforcement Agents have full authority to issue summonses for expired registration
- Police officers typically handle expired registration violations, though TEAs may in some jurisdictions (Correct answer)
- Parking meter attendants may issue this type of summons
- The DMV issues registration violations directly by mail
Correct answer: Police officers typically handle expired registration violations, though TEAs may in some jurisdictions
Expired registration summonses are generally issued by sworn police officers, though TEA authority varies by jurisdiction.
Question 4: How should a TEA handle a summons when a vehicle is parked in front of a fire hydrant?
- Measure the distance from the hydrant; if within 15 feet, issue a summons without an observation period (Correct answer)
- Wait 30 minutes before issuing to confirm no emergency is in progress
- Contact the fire department before issuing any summons near a hydrant
- Issue only a warning for the first observed offense
Correct answer: Measure the distance from the hydrant; if within 15 feet, issue a summons without an observation period
Parking within 15 feet of a fire hydrant is a clear violation that requires no observation period — a summons should be issued immediately upon confirming the distance.
Question 5: What is the purpose of the 'chalk mark' or 'tire mark' technique used by TEAs?
- To identify vehicles that have been towed
- To document the position of a vehicle's tire at a specific time to prove overtime parking (Correct answer)
- To mark vehicles that require wheel locking (booting)
- To signal other TEAs that a vehicle has already been checked
Correct answer: To document the position of a vehicle's tire at a specific time to prove overtime parking
Marking a tire records the vehicle's position at a specific time, allowing the TEA to return later and confirm the vehicle has not moved, proving an overtime parking violation.
Question 6: Which of the following is NOT a valid reason for a TEA to refrain from issuing a summons to an otherwise violating vehicle?
- The vehicle belongs to an on-duty law enforcement officer responding to an emergency
- The vehicle owner offers the TEA a cash payment (Correct answer)
- The vehicle displays a valid press credential placard in a jurisdiction that provides such exemptions
- A construction permit is posted authorizing lane or curb use at that location
Correct answer: The vehicle owner offers the TEA a cash payment
Accepting payment to not issue a summons is bribery and is strictly prohibited — TEAs must issue the summons regardless of any inducement.
Question 7: A TEA observes a vehicle parked in a 'No Parking 8AM–6PM Mon–Fri' zone at 5:45 PM on a Thursday. What should the agent do?
- Issue a summons because the violation is active until 6 PM (Correct answer)
- Do not issue a summons because only 15 minutes remain in the restriction
- Issue a warning only since the restriction is nearly over
- Wait until after 6 PM and then issue a retroactive summons
Correct answer: Issue a summons because the violation is active until 6 PM
The restriction is in effect until 6:00 PM, so a vehicle parked there at 5:45 PM on a Thursday is in active violation and should receive a summons.
TEA Traffic Enforcement Agent Summons Issuance Procedures 3
A TEA is assigned to a school zone.
During school hours, what additional restriction typically applies to parking enforcement?