Which statement is true?

• A. It is ethical to look up a friend’s traffic record.
• B. It is unethical to look up a friend's traffic record.
• C. It is permissible to drink alcohol while working overtime.
• D. It is permissible to use court stationery for personal promotion.

Answer: (B)

The key idea here is professional ethics and safeguarding confidential information. In a clerk role, access to records should be limited to official duties with proper authorization. Looking up a friend’s traffic record crosses a line because it uses sensitive information for personal reasons, not for work tasks. This erodes trust, creates possible conflicts of interest, and can lead to misuse of government data. That’s why this statement is true: it’s unethical to access someone’s confidential records without a legitimate, job-related purpose and authorization.

Think about the other scenarios in a similar light: looking up a friend’s record without a work reason, even if well-intentioned, violates privacy and policy. Drinking alcohol while working is unsafe and typically prohibited by workplace rules. Using court stationery for personal promotion is using official resources for personal gain, which is improper. The core rule is to keep access and use of official information strictly tied to official duties and proper authorization.