Typo sends drivers to Trump 2024 merch site

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Category: Technology/Innovations

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. traffic citation / ˈtræf ɪk saɪˈteɪ ʃən / (n.) – a written notice for a traffic violation
    Example:

    I received a traffic citation for parking in the wrong spot.


  2. erroneous / ɪˈroʊ ni əs / (adj.) – incorrect or false
    Example:

    The belief that the Earth is flat is erroneous.


  3. flyer / ˈflaɪ ər / (n.) – a piece of paper used for promoting a product, event, or service
    Example:

    The staff of the new restaurant gave out flyers to potential customers.


  4. be in circulation / bi ɪn ˌsɜr kyəˈleɪ ʃən / (idiom) – to be passed from one person to another or be available for people to use
    Example:

    The Ministry of Finance said that the new bills will be in circulation by 2024.


  5. at some point / æt səm pɔɪnt / (idiom) – at a moment that is not specific
    Example:

    My parents met at some point in their 20s.


Article

Read the text below.

An apparent typo was sending motorists in South Florida seeking to resolve their traffic citations to a website selling 2024 merchandise for former President Donald Trump, officials said.


Miami Beach police had been handing out the erroneous flyers until the second week of February, police spokesperson Ernesto Rodriguez told the Miami Herald on Feb. 14. He did not know how long they had been in circulation.


“We’re aware of this typographical error now,” Rodriguez said. “We put out a notice to officers to discontinue using them.”


The flyer explained how to resolve minor traffic tickets online by visiting the Miami-Dade County Clerk of Courts website. The problem was the web address printed in the flyer left out a hyphen, prompting drivers to visit the wrong website — a site that sells Trump 2024 hats and flags.


Court administrators said Miami Beach appears to be the only agency with the web address typo. The original flyer sent to Miami-Dade police in May 2020 included the correct address, but Miami Beach produced its own version of the notices and the error was inserted at some point during the printing process. (The Japan Times)


This article was provided by The Japan Times Alpha.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • The web address printed in the flyer left out a hyphen, prompting drivers to visit a site that sells Trump 2024 hats and flags. Do you think the error was intentionally placed? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • Miami Beach produced its own version of the notices and the error was inserted at some point during the printing process. How do you think a similar error can be prevented in the future (ex. check documents first before printing)? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • The motorists, who were accidentally led to the Trump 2024 merch site, were trying to resolve their traffic tickets online. Do you think resolving traffic tickets online is efficient? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • In your opinion, in what situations are online processes more efficient (ex. when doing shopping, when making hotel reservations)? Why? Discuss.