TEA Traffic Enforcement Agent Summons Issuance Procedures 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When a TEA discovers a vehicle has been parked overtime but the meter has just expired, what is the correct first step?
- Issue a summons immediately without further observation
- Record the time of observation and wait the required observation period before issuing (Correct answer)
- Contact dispatch to confirm if a summons should be issued
- Mark the tire and return after 30 minutes regardless of meter status
Correct answer: Record the time of observation and wait the required observation period before issuing
TEAs must record the observation time and complete the required observation period to confirm the violation before issuing a summons.
Question 2: Which information must appear on every parking summons issued by a Traffic Enforcement Agent?
- The vehicle owner's driver license number
- The license plate number, state, expiration date of violation, and location (Correct answer)
- The vehicle owner's home address
- The name and badge number of the TEA's supervisor
Correct answer: The license plate number, state, expiration date of violation, and location
Every summons must include the license plate, state of registration, date/time of violation, and precise location to be legally valid.
Question 3: A TEA issues a summons to a vehicle and then realizes the plate number was recorded incorrectly. What should the agent do?
- Cross out the error on the summons and initial the correction
- Void the original summons and issue a new one with the correct information (Correct answer)
- Leave the summons as is since it was already placed on the vehicle
- Notify the vehicle owner by phone to correct the record
Correct answer: Void the original summons and issue a new one with the correct information
A summons with incorrect plate information must be voided and a new, accurate summons must be issued to ensure enforceability.
Question 4: Under what circumstances may a TEA issue a summons for double parking?
- Only if the vehicle has been double-parked for more than 30 minutes
- When the vehicle is stopped alongside another parked vehicle and blocking traffic flow (Correct answer)
- Only when the vehicle's hazard lights are not activated
- Only after attempting to locate the vehicle's driver
Correct answer: When the vehicle is stopped alongside another parked vehicle and blocking traffic flow
Double parking occurs when a vehicle stops alongside a legally parked vehicle, and a summons may be issued whenever this condition is observed.
Question 5: A TEA is about to issue a summons when the vehicle's owner rushes over and moves the car. What action should the agent take?
- Issue the summons anyway since the violation was observed (Correct answer)
- Cancel the summons since the vehicle was moved before it was placed
- Issue a warning instead of a summons
- Follow the vehicle to a new location and issue the summons there
Correct answer: Issue the summons anyway since the violation was observed
If the violation was observed and a summons was already being written, the TEA may complete and serve the summons even if the vehicle moves.
Question 6: Which of the following vehicles is generally EXEMPT from parking summonses when properly displaying credentials?
- Commercial delivery vehicles stopped at a fire hydrant
- Vehicles displaying a valid disabled placard parked in a metered space beyond the posted time limit (Correct answer)
- Vehicles with government license plates parked in a no-standing zone
- Rental vehicles parked in a bus stop
Correct answer: Vehicles displaying a valid disabled placard parked in a metered space beyond the posted time limit
Vehicles with valid disabled (handicapped) placards or plates are generally exempt from meter time limits at metered parking spaces.
Question 7: What does 'No Standing' mean, and how does it differ from 'No Parking'?
- No Standing prohibits all stopping; No Parking allows brief stops for passengers
- No Standing prohibits stopping except to pick up or discharge passengers; No Parking prohibits leaving a vehicle unattended (Correct answer)
- No Standing and No Parking have identical restrictions
- No Standing applies only at night; No Parking applies during the day
Correct answer: No Standing prohibits stopping except to pick up or discharge passengers; No Parking prohibits leaving a vehicle unattended
No Standing prohibits stopping except to immediately pick up or discharge passengers, while No Parking prohibits leaving an unattended vehicle but allows active loading/unloading.
TEA Traffic Enforcement Agent Summons Issuance Procedures 2
When a TEA discovers a vehicle has been parked overtime but the meter has just expired, what is the correct first step?