TEA Traffic Enforcement Written Comprehension 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A shift report form requires agents to list all citations issued, all warnings given, and total hours on patrol. An agent lists citations and patrol hours but omits warnings. The report is:
- Acceptable because warnings are informal and not legally required
- Incomplete because all three categories are required on the form (Correct answer)
- Complete if no warnings were given that shift
- Valid if the supervisor approves it verbally
Correct answer: Incomplete because all three categories are required on the form
The form requires all three categories; unless the agent gave zero warnings, the omission makes the report incomplete.
Question 2: A policy states: 'Agents shall document the license plate, state of registration, vehicle make, model, and color for every parking citation.' An agent records plate, state, make, and color but omits the model. The citation is:
- Valid if the vehicle color and plate are correct
- Deficient because the vehicle model is a required field (Correct answer)
- Acceptable in cases where the model is not visible
- Valid if at least four of the five fields are present
Correct answer: Deficient because the vehicle model is a required field
Policy requires all five data points; omitting the model makes the citation documentation deficient.
Question 3: A traffic enforcement bulletin states: 'Vehicles may not park within 30 feet of a stop sign.' An agent estimates a vehicle is parked about 25 feet from a stop sign. Without a measuring tool, the agent should:
- Issue a citation based on the estimate alone
- Return with a measuring tape to confirm the distance before citing (Correct answer)
- Assume the driver knows the rule and issue a warning only
- Disregard the possible violation since exact measurement is unavailable
Correct answer: Return with a measuring tape to confirm the distance before citing
Citations based on distance require accurate measurement; the agent should return with proper tools to confirm before citing.
Question 4: An agent's procedural manual states that citations must be legibly written so that 'the violator, the court, and department records all have matching information.' An agent's handwriting on a citation makes the license plate number ambiguous — it could be read as either '8B' or '8D.' The agent should:
- Submit the citation and let the court clarify later
- Void the citation and reissue a new, clearly written one (Correct answer)
- Use correction fluid to fix the unclear letter
- Add an explanatory note on a separate sheet
Correct answer: Void the citation and reissue a new, clearly written one
Ambiguous information violates the legibility requirement; the citation should be voided and a clear one reissued.
Question 5: A regulation states: 'No vehicle shall park within 20 feet of a driveway entrance.' A resident claims their driveway is private and asks the agent not to enforce the rule. The agent should:
- Honor the resident's request since it is their private property
- Enforce the regulation regardless of the resident's preference (Correct answer)
- Seek supervisor approval before deciding
- Allow the parked vehicle to remain if the resident gives written consent
Correct answer: Enforce the regulation regardless of the resident's preference
Traffic regulations apply to public streets regardless of adjacent private property owners' preferences.
Question 6: An agent reads a jurisdiction policy: 'Overtime parking fines double after 5 PM on weekdays and all day on weekends.' A citation is issued for overtime parking at 6:30 PM on a Friday. The fine applied should be:
- The standard fine because 6:30 PM is close to the standard cutoff
- Double the standard fine because it is after 5 PM on a weekday (Correct answer)
- Half the standard fine since the vehicle will likely leave soon
- The standard fine plus a towing fee
Correct answer: Double the standard fine because it is after 5 PM on a weekday
The policy states fines double after 5 PM on weekdays; 6:30 PM Friday clearly falls within that period.
Question 7: A departmental order states: 'Agents shall not use personal mobile devices while actively enforcing traffic laws.' An agent receives a personal call while writing a citation and answers it. The agent has:
- Complied because answering a call does not stop enforcement
- Violated the order by using a personal device during active enforcement (Correct answer)
- Complied if the call lasts fewer than 60 seconds
- Acted appropriately if the call is work-related
Correct answer: Violated the order by using a personal device during active enforcement
The order prohibits personal device use during active enforcement regardless of call length or content.
TEA Traffic Enforcement Written Comprehension 5
A shift report form requires agents to list all citations issued, all warnings given, and total hours on patrol.
An agent lists citations and patrol hours but omits warnings.
The report is: