Louisiana Driver License: Alcohol, DWI, Implied Consent, Trailers and Registration

30 questions with the correct answer and an explanation for each. Topic: Alcohol, DWI, Implied Consent, Trailers and Registration. Free, no account needed.

1. A driver finishes a beer and gets behind the wheel ten minutes later, feeling completely normal. About how long does it actually take for alcohol to reach the brain and begin impairing judgment?

20 minutes
5 minutes
45 minutes
60 minutes

Answer: A — 20 minutes

Alcohol takes about 20 minutes to reach the brain and start attacking judgment and skill, so a driver who feels fine minutes after drinking may not yet feel the full effect.

2. Someone who has been drinking feels a warm flush and heads out into cold weather, assuming their body has warmed up. What is actually happening to their body temperature?

It actually drops
It rises along with the flush
It stays constant
It fluctuates unpredictably

Answer: A — It actually drops

The warm flush comes from blood moving to the skin, but core body temperature actually drops, which is dangerous in cold, heat, shock or snakebite situations.

3. After drinking, someone drinks a strong cup of coffee before driving, believing it will sober them up. What actually happens?

Nothing hastens sobering; only time lets the liver and kidneys process the alcohol
Coffee counteracts the depressant effect directly
Coffee speeds up elimination through the kidneys
Coffee combined with exercise works

Answer: A — Nothing hastens sobering; only time lets the liver and kidneys process the alcohol

Once alcohol is in the blood, nothing speeds sobering up, not coffee, exercise or a cold shower; only the liver metabolizing it and the kidneys and lungs eliminating it over time reduces BAC.

4. Two people drink the same amount of alcohol, but one of them has an empty stomach. What happens to that person's alcohol absorption compared to someone who has eaten?

It slows down
It has no effect on absorption
It speeds up
It only matters after several hours

Answer: C — It speeds up

An empty stomach speeds the absorption of alcohol into the blood.

5. A driver is pulled over while operating a commercial vehicle and given a breath test. What BAC limit applies to them behind the wheel of that vehicle?

Answer: B — .04

Louisiana sets a .04 BAC limit for driving a commercial vehicle, stricter than the .08 that applies at 21 or older.

6. A 19-year-old driver is stopped and given a breath test. What BAC limit legally applies to them?

Answer: D — .02

Drivers 20 and younger are held to a .02 BAC limit, well below the .08 limit for drivers 21 and older.

7. At 2 a.m. a driver's BAC is measured at 0.20 percent. Given that the body eliminates alcohol at roughly 0.015 percent per hour, about what would their BAC be by 8 a.m.?

Still the full 0.20
0.00
Down to about 0.02
Still over 0.10

Answer: D — Still over 0.10

At about 0.015 percent eliminated per hour, a 0.20 BAC at 2 a.m. is still over 0.10 six hours later at 8 a.m.

8. A first-time DWI offender is convicted. Besides up to six months in jail and losing their license for a year, about how much is the maximum fine (excluding court costs)?

$1,025
$2,100
$500
$5,250

Answer: A — $1,025

A first DWI carries a maximum fine of $1,025 plus costs, along with up to six months in jail and a one-year loss of license.

9. A driver is convicted of a second DWI. What mandatory minimum jail time must they serve?

48 hours
6 months
24 hours
30 days

Answer: A — 48 hours

A second DWI carries up to six months in jail with 48 hours mandatory.

10. Someone is convicted of a third DWI. Beyond prison time and fines, what happens to their vehicle?

Nothing, only their license is affected
It is seized and sold
It must be sold privately within a year
It is impounded for 30 days and returned

Answer: B — It is seized and sold

A third DWI conviction includes seizure and sale of the vehicle in addition to prison time, fines and treatment requirements.

11. What is the maximum prison term a driver faces for a fourth DWI conviction?

10 years
30 years
20 years
5 years

Answer: B — 30 years

A fourth DWI is a felony carrying up to 30 years in prison with 30 days mandatory.

12. A driver smokes marijuana and then, a few hours later, has a couple of drinks before getting behind the wheel. Why is this combination especially dangerous?

Marijuana's effects wear off in minutes, so timing doesn't matter
Marijuana cancels out alcohol's impairing effects
Only the alcohol impairs driving ability, not the marijuana
One marijuana cigarette's effects can last five to six hours, overlapping with the alcohol

Answer: D — One marijuana cigarette's effects can last five to six hours, overlapping with the alcohol

While one drink's effects fade in about an hour, one marijuana cigarette's effects can last five to six hours, so combining the two multiplies the danger.

13. A driver strikes and kills a pedestrian while driving, without intending to harm anyone. What can they be charged with?

Hit and run
Vehicle negligent injury
Reckless driving only
Vehicular homicide, regardless of intent

Answer: D — Vehicular homicide, regardless of intent

Vehicular homicide applies to killing a person with any conveyance regardless of intent, carrying a $2,000 to $15,000 fine and five to 30 years.

14. A driver takes an over-the-counter cold medicine that causes drowsiness and then drives while impaired by it. How does the law treat this?

It only applies to illegal drugs, not OTC medicine
It only counts if the medicine was prescribed by a doctor
As a minor infraction with just a warning
The same as drunk driving

Answer: D — The same as drunk driving

Louisiana punishes drugged driving exactly like drunk driving, including impairment from over-the-counter and prescribed medicines.

15. A driver with a BAC of 0.08 causes a crash that injures someone, but the injury is not serious. What is this charged as, and what is the maximum penalty?

Reckless driving, a fine only
Vehicular homicide, up to 30 years
Vehicle negligent injury, up to $1,000 and six months
First degree vehicle negligent injury, up to $2,000 and five years

Answer: C — Vehicle negligent injury, up to $1,000 and six months

Vehicle negligent injury while impaired or at 0.08 or more carries up to $1,000 and six months, distinct from the harsher first degree charge reserved for serious bodily injury.

16. A driver refuses to take a chemical test when an officer has reason to believe they are impaired, for the first time. How long is their license suspended as a result?

180 days
730 days
90 days
365 days

Answer: D — 365 days

Refusing the test suspends privileges for 365 days on a first offense, and 730 days for a second or later refusal.

17. After a suspension for refusing a chemical test, what must a driver show before their license can be reinstated?

Completion of a defensive driving course
A letter from their employer
Proof of a clean driving record
An SR-22 high-risk policy or $30,000 in cash or security

Answer: D — An SR-22 high-risk policy or $30,000 in cash or security

Reinstatement after a refusal suspension requires proof of future financial responsibility via an SR-22 policy or $30,000 in cash or security, maintained for three years.

18. A 22-year-old driver submits to a chemical test and registers a BAC of 0.16. What suspension results from that test?

No suspension, since they cooperated
365 days
730 days (two years)
180 days

Answer: C — 730 days (two years)

Submitting at 21 or older with a BAC of 0.15 or greater brings a two-year (730-day) suspension.

19. A driver is caught and convicted of driving while their license is already suspended. What happens to their suspension as a result of that conviction?

The suspension period is cut in half
One year is added to the suspension
Nothing changes beyond the arrest
The suspension restarts from the original violation

Answer: B — One year is added to the suspension

Each conviction for driving under suspension adds one year to the suspension, on top of arrest, fines and jail.

20. A driver racks up three reckless driving convictions within a 12-month period. What happens to their driving privileges?

Their insurance is automatically cancelled
They only receive an added fine
Nothing, reckless driving alone doesn't trigger suspension
Their privileges are suspended

Answer: D — Their privileges are suspended

Three reckless driving convictions within 12 months is one of the listed grounds for suspension of driving privileges.

21. A driver never physically hands over their license card after receiving a suspension notice. Can the suspension period still begin running?

It only starts when the license naturally expires
No, it can't start until the card is surrendered
It never starts without surrender
Yes; the period can date from several points, including 30 days after the notice

Answer: D — Yes; the period can date from several points, including 30 days after the notice

Surrendering the card is not required to start the suspension period, which can date from several points including 30 days after the notice.

22. Someone is towing a trailer loaded to 4,000 pounds. What safety equipment does the law require on that trailer that a much lighter trailer would not need?

Side and rear reflectors
A weight-distribution hitch only
Brakes the driver can apply from the cab that engage automatically in a breakaway
Dual axles

Answer: C — Brakes the driver can apply from the cab that engage automatically in a breakaway

Trailers of 3,000 pounds or more need brakes the driver can apply from the cab that also apply automatically if the trailer breaks away.

23. When hooking up safety chains between a tow vehicle and a trailer, how should they be arranged?

Hanging loosely straight down
Wrapped tightly around the hitch ball with no slack
Crossed under the tongue
Attached only to the rear bumper

Answer: C — Crossed under the tongue

Safety chains must have slack for turns but cross under the tongue so it stays off the road if the trailer separates.

24. A trailer owner is replacing tires and has both radial and bias-ply tires on hand that are the same size. What should they do?

Mix them for better traction
It doesn't matter as long as the size matches
Never mix bias and radial tires
Use radial tires only on the front axle

Answer: C — Never mix bias and radial tires

Trailer tires should match in type, size and construction, never mixing bias and radial.

25. Someone buys a used vehicle from a private seller. How many days do they have to apply for a title?

60 days
30 days
5 days
10 days

Answer: C — 5 days

Buyers of a used vehicle have five days to apply for a title with the required assigned title, bill of sale and other documents.

26. A driver buys a new car from a Louisiana dealer. How long is the temporary cardboard plate valid while permanent registration is processed?

60 days
30 days
90 days
10 days

Answer: A — 60 days

A new car from a Louisiana dealer comes with a 60-day temporary cardboard plate that must be visible from the rear.

27. A buyer is filling out a title application for a used vehicle. Under what vehicle age does the application call for a federal odometer statement?

Required at any age
Under 5 years old
Under 10 years old
Under 15 years old

Answer: C — Under 10 years old

A federal odometer statement is required for vehicles under 10 years old, though titles printed since 1998 have it built in.

28. A driver moves to a new address. How long do they have to correct their vehicle registration address, and is there a fee?

5 days, with a fee
60 days, free
30 days, with a fee
10 days, free

Answer: D — 10 days, free

Registration address corrections must be made within 10 days of moving and are free.

29. When registering a vehicle, what is the state sales tax rate applied before any varying local rates are added?

4 percent
2 percent
8 percent
6 percent

Answer: A — 4 percent

State tax on vehicle registration is 4 percent, plus varying local rates.

30. A driver's license plate is seized after they couldn't show proof of insurance. How many calendar days, excluding weekends and holidays, do they have to show proof at an OMV office before the plate is destroyed?

7 days
1 day
10 days
3 days

Answer: D — 3 days

Drivers have three calendar days, excluding weekends and holidays, to show proof of insurance at an OMV office before the plate is destroyed and re-registration fees are due.