Minnesota Driver License: Driving Under the Influence

30 questions with the correct answer and an explanation for each. Topic: Driving Under the Influence. Free, no account needed.

1. Alcohol is involved in more than what share of Minnesota road deaths?

One-half
One-third
One-tenth
Two-thirds

Answer: B — One-third

Alcohol is involved in more than one-third of Minnesota road deaths.

2. About how many people are killed each year in Minnesota crashes caused by impaired drivers?

Answer: B — 240

Impaired-driver crashes kill about 240 people a year in Minnesota.

3. In a crash caused by an impaired driver, who is most often the one killed?

A passenger in another vehicle
The impaired driver
A passenger in the impaired driver's own vehicle
A pedestrian

Answer: B — The impaired driver

The person most often killed in these crashes is the impaired driver.

4. A driver is taking a doctor-prescribed medication. Under what condition is it acceptable for them to drive?

Only if it is taken with food
As long as they feel fine
Only if the doctor says it will not affect their driving
Only after eight hours of sleep

Answer: C — Only if the doctor says it will not affect their driving

A prescribed drug is allowed only if the doctor confirms it will not affect driving.

5. Alcohol acts on the body as what kind of substance?

A stimulant
A depressant
A hallucinogen
A diuretic with no effect on the nervous system

Answer: B — A depressant

Alcohol is classified as a depressant.

6. After how many drinks does alcohol begin to impair a person's driving ability?

One drink
Three drinks
Two drinks
It only matters once the legal limit is reached

Answer: A — One drink

Driving is impaired after just one drink.

7. A driver who has been drinking is most likely to experience which change in vision?

Improved night vision
Enhanced color perception
Reduced eye movement and peripheral vision
No change unless blood alcohol exceeds 0.10

Answer: C — Reduced eye movement and peripheral vision

Alcohol reduces eye movement and peripheral vision, with blurring at high levels.

8. Alcohol's effect on judgment most often causes a driver to do what?

Become overly cautious about seatbelt use
Overestimate the danger of every situation
React faster to hazards
Misjudge their own impairment and stopping distance

Answer: D — Misjudge their own impairment and stopping distance

Impaired judgment leads a drinker to misjudge their own impairment, speed, stopping distance, belt use and defensive driving.

9. A driver who has been drinking is more likely to show which behavior at the wheel?

Slower but more precise acceleration
Increased peripheral awareness
Smoother, steadier lane control
Over-steering and weaving

Answer: D — Over-steering and weaving

Alcohol affects steering, causing over-steering, weaving and running off the road.

10. Which two drinks contain roughly the same amount of alcohol?

A mixed drink and a full bottle of wine
A 5-ounce glass of wine and a 5-ounce beer
A 12-ounce beer and a 5-ounce glass of wine
A 12-ounce beer and a 12-ounce wine cooler

Answer: C — A 12-ounce beer and a 5-ounce glass of wine

A 12-ounce beer, a 5-ounce glass of wine, a typical mixed drink, and a 9-ounce wine cooler all hold about the same amount of alcohol.

11. An 80-proof bottle of whiskey is what percent alcohol?

40 percent
60 percent
20 percent
80 percent

Answer: A — 40 percent

Proof is twice the alcohol percentage, so 80-proof whiskey is 40 percent alcohol.

12. A driver who has been drinking has coffee and a cold shower before getting behind the wheel, hoping to sober up faster. What actually happens to their blood alcohol concentration?

Exercise afterward would clear it immediately
It drops quickly because of the coffee
It does not drop any faster; only time lowers it
It drops quickly because of the cold shower

Answer: C — It does not drop any faster; only time lowers it

Only time lowers blood alcohol concentration; coffee, exercise and cold showers change nothing.

13. Roughly how fast does the body lower blood alcohol concentration once a person stops drinking?

About one drink's worth per hour
About one drink's worth per half hour
About one drink's worth per 15 minutes
It depends only on how much coffee is consumed

Answer: A — About one drink's worth per hour

Time lowers concentration at roughly one drink per hour.

14. Two people drink the same number of drinks; one has more body fat and less muscle than the other. What happens to their blood alcohol concentrations?

The person with more muscle reaches a higher concentration
Body composition has no effect on concentration
Both reach identical concentrations
The person with more body fat reaches a higher concentration

Answer: D — The person with more body fat reaches a higher concentration

Muscle absorbs alcohol less readily than fat, so more body fat means a higher concentration from the same drinks.

15. At what alcohol concentration on its own can the driver of a regular passenger vehicle be arrested for DWI?

0.04
0.08
0.10
0.02

Answer: B — 0.08

A concentration of 0.08 percent or higher allows arrest for DWI.

16. What blood alcohol concentration triggers a DWI arrest for someone driving a commercial vehicle?

0.04
0.16
0.08
0.02

Answer: A — 0.04

The commercial vehicle threshold is 0.04.

17. A driver at 0.05 blood alcohol concentration makes an unsafe lane change, and the officer believes alcohol caused it. Can the driver be arrested for DWI?

No, arrest requires at least 0.04 regardless of proof
Yes, but only if a passenger was injured
No, arrest requires at least 0.08
Yes, arrest is possible as low as 0.04 if the officer can show alcohol caused the driving error

Answer: D — Yes, arrest is possible as low as 0.04 if the officer can show alcohol caused the driving error

Arrest is possible at a concentration as low as 0.04 if the officer can prove alcohol caused driving errors.

18. A driver refuses a blood, breath, or urine test requested by an officer with probable cause. What happens to their driving privileges?

An automatic 30-day suspension only
Nothing, refusal carries no penalty
Revocation of one to six years depending on their record
A $680 fine with no revocation

Answer: C — Revocation of one to six years depending on their record

Refusing under implied consent is a crime that revokes privileges for one to six years depending on record.

19. What is the primary purpose of a roadside preliminary breath test?

It automatically triggers a DWI charge if positive
It replaces the need for a blood or urine test entirely
It is fully admissible as definitive proof in court
It guides the officer's decision and has limited use in court

Answer: D — It guides the officer's decision and has limited use in court

The roadside test guides the officer but has limited use in court.

20. After an alcohol-related license revocation, what fee is required to reinstate the license?

$1,000
$3,000
$680
$250

Answer: C — $680

An alcohol-related revocation brings a $680 reinstatement fee.

21. A first-time DWI offender pleads guilty. What is the minimum license revocation they can expect?

90 days
180 days
30 days
60 days

Answer: C — 30 days

First offense revocation is at least 90 days, reduced to 30 days if the driver pleads guilty.

22. A driver is convicted of a second DWI offense within ten years. What is the minimum license revocation?

One year
Four years
Three years
90 days

Answer: A — One year

A second offense within ten years brings at least a one-year revocation.

23. A driver is convicted of a third DWI offense within ten years. How long is their minimum time without a license?

Four years
Two years
One year
Three years

Answer: D — Three years

A third offense within ten years brings at least three years without a license.

24. At what blood alcohol concentration does an ignition interlock device block a vehicle from starting?

0.02
0.08
0.04
0.00

Answer: A — 0.02

The interlock blocks starting at a concentration of 0.02 or more.

25. A driver has three prior DWI convictions within ten years and is now arrested for a fourth. What is this offense classified as, and what is the maximum fine?

Felony DWI, $14,000
Felony DWI, $3,000
Misdemeanor, $1,000
Gross misdemeanor, $3,000

Answer: A — Felony DWI, $14,000

A fourth DWI in ten years is felony DWI, carrying up to a $14,000 fine.

26. A 19-year-old driver is stopped and found to have any detectable amount of alcohol in their system. What happens to their driving privilege?

30-day loss of privilege
90-day loss of privilege
Nothing unless their concentration is over 0.08
Automatic felony charge

Answer: A — 30-day loss of privilege

A driver under 21 with any detectable alcohol loses the privilege for 30 days.

27. A driver under 21 has a second alcohol-related conviction. How long do they lose their driving privilege?

180 days
One year
30 days
90 days

Answer: A — 180 days

A second conviction for a driver under 21 brings a 180-day loss of privilege.

28. A commercial driver operates a commercial vehicle at a blood alcohol concentration of 0.04. How long is their commercial license lost?

24 hours
Permanently
At least one year
90 days

Answer: C — At least one year

Driving a commercial vehicle at 0.04 or more results in loss of the commercial license for at least one year.

29. A passenger wants to drink a beer while riding in a vehicle that is on a public road. Is this legal?

Yes, as long as the driver is not drinking
No, the driver may not allow a passenger to have an open container of alcohol
No, but only if the vehicle is a commercial vehicle
Yes, if the container is capped between sips

Answer: B — No, the driver may not allow a passenger to have an open container of alcohol

No one may keep an open container of alcohol in a vehicle on a public road, and the driver may not allow a passenger to either.

30. A driver has an opened package of a cannabis product and wants to legally transport it in a vehicle that has no trunk. Where must it be kept?

The center console
An area not normally occupied by the driver or passengers
Anywhere within the driver's reach
The glove box

Answer: B — An area not normally occupied by the driver or passengers

Without a trunk, an opened cannabis package must be kept in an area not normally occupied by driver or passengers, never the glove box.