Police Entrance Practice Exam

Who has the authority to dismiss a traffic citation?

1. The police officer who issued it

2. The Traffic Bureau Commander

3. Only the court

4. The defendant's lawyer

The correct answer is: Only the court

A traffic citation can only be dismissed by the court since it is the judicial branch that has the power to interpret and enforce the law. The police officer who issued the citation is responsible for enforcing the law and may have the power to reduce the penalty, but they do not have the authority to dismiss it entirely. The Traffic Bureau Commander is also not authorized to dismiss a citation, as their role is to oversee the management and operations of the traffic bureau, not the legal aspect of citations. Additionally, a defendant's lawyer does not have the power to dismiss a citation as their role is to represent their client's interests in court, not to make decisions on behalf of the court.