If a clerk determines there is an error on a traffic citation, the clerk should tell the judge so that the judge can dismiss the case.

• A. False
• B. True
• C. The clerk should correct the error herself
• D. The clerk should inform the defendant first

Answer: (A)

When a clerk finds an error on a traffic citation, the key idea is that clerks support the court but do not decide cases. Dismissal is a judicial action, not something a clerk can grant on their own. The proper step is to bring the error to the judge's attention and follow the court’s procedures for correcting the record or handling the case through the appropriate channels. The judge will determine whether a correction is issued, a hearing is needed, or the case is dismissed, based on rules and motions. The clerk’s role is to document the error and facilitate the next steps, not to unilaterally dismiss the case or make substantive changes.