TEA Traffic Enforcement Agent Written Comprehension 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A sign reads: 'AUTHORIZED VEHICLES ONLY — VIOLATORS WILL BE TOWED.' A vehicle with a city-issued placard is parked there. What should a TEA do?
- Issue a summons since the sign says authorized vehicles only
- Verify whether city-issued placards qualify as authorization under local rules before acting (Correct answer)
- Tow the vehicle immediately
- Ignore it since it has a government placard
Correct answer: Verify whether city-issued placards qualify as authorization under local rules before acting
A TEA should verify whether the placard grants authorization under applicable rules rather than assuming it does or does not.
Question 2: A TEA's handbook states: 'Observation time must be at least three minutes before issuing a meter violation.' An agent observes an expired meter for one minute and issues a summons. This action is:
- Acceptable if the meter is clearly expired
- A violation of procedure that could result in dismissal of the summons (Correct answer)
- Acceptable because expired meters are obvious violations
- Permitted during peak enforcement hours
Correct answer: A violation of procedure that could result in dismissal of the summons
Failing to observe for the required minimum time violates procedure and can result in the summons being dismissed.
Question 3: A written rule states: 'Summonses must be issued in numerical order from the summons book.' An agent skips a number by mistake. What is the most appropriate action?
- Use the skipped summons for the next violation
- Void the skipped summons and document the skip as required by procedure (Correct answer)
- Leave the book as is and continue from the next number
- Destroy the skipped summons to avoid confusion
Correct answer: Void the skipped summons and document the skip as required by procedure
The skipped summons must be voided and documented to maintain accurate accounting and chain-of-custody records.
Question 4: A sign states: 'NO STANDING 8AM-6PM EXCEPT SUNDAY.' At 10 AM on a Sunday, a vehicle is standing in the zone. The TEA should:
- Issue a summons because 10 AM is within the listed hours
- Allow the vehicle; Sunday is explicitly exempted (Correct answer)
- Issue a warning only on Sundays
- Tow the vehicle regardless of the day
Correct answer: Allow the vehicle; Sunday is explicitly exempted
The sign exempts Sundays, so standing on Sunday at any hour is not a violation.
Question 5: A TEA reads: 'A vehicle is in violation if any part of it is within the restricted zone.' The front bumper of a parked car extends two inches past a no-parking sign. Should a summons be issued?
- No, because most of the vehicle is outside the zone
- Yes, because any part of the vehicle within the zone constitutes a violation (Correct answer)
- No, unless the entire vehicle is in the zone
- Yes, but only if the obstruction poses a safety hazard
Correct answer: Yes, because any part of the vehicle within the zone constitutes a violation
The rule explicitly states that 'any part' within the zone constitutes a violation, regardless of how much of the vehicle is inside.
Question 6: A TEA's written guide states: 'Always note weather conditions in your daily log.' On a clear sunny day, an agent omits weather conditions. This omission is:
- Acceptable since weather only matters in bad conditions
- A failure to follow written procedure regardless of weather (Correct answer)
- Acceptable if no weather-related incidents occurred
- Required only when the weather affects enforcement
Correct answer: A failure to follow written procedure regardless of weather
The instruction to 'always' note weather conditions applies every day without exception.
Question 7: A municipal regulation reads: 'No vehicle shall be parked in a bus stop zone at any time.' A school bus is parked in a bus stop zone while students are boarding. Should the TEA issue a summons?
- Yes, because the regulation says no vehicle at any time
- No, because school buses using bus stops for their intended purpose are typically exempt (Correct answer)
- Yes, but only if the school bus remains more than 10 minutes
- No, but the bus driver should be asked to move
Correct answer: No, because school buses using bus stops for their intended purpose are typically exempt
School buses actively loading or unloading students at a bus stop are performing the stop's intended function and are generally exempt.
TEA Traffic Enforcement Agent Written Comprehension 4
A sign reads: 'AUTHORIZED VEHICLES ONLY — VIOLATORS WILL BE TOWED.' A vehicle with a city-issued placard is parked there.
What should a TEA do?