Alcohol & Drugs

Study questions with answers

12 sample Alcohol & Drugs questions with the correct answer, a short explanation, and the official handbook reference. Read through them, then take the quiz above.

1. 1. What BAC level can bring DUI consequences for a Washington driver under age 21?

   Correct answer: 0.02% or more

   Drivers under 21 face the same potential consequences at a BAC of just 0.02% or more. The limit is far lower because underage drinking and driving is not tolerated.

   Source: Washington Driver Guide — Blood Alcohol Concentration (1.15)

2. 2. How long do alcohol- and drug-related driving offenses stay on your driving record in Washington?

   Correct answer: For life

   Alcohol- and drug-related offenses remain on your driving record for life. They can also lead to loss of license, heavy fines, jail, and higher insurance costs.

   Source: Washington Driver Guide — Driving Under the Influence (1.15)

3. 3. The DUI law can apply to a person in a parked vehicle under what circumstance?

   Correct answer: When they have physical control of the vehicle, even parked

   DUI also covers being in physical control of a vehicle, even parked. If you can take control of the engine or operation, you are considered in control of it.

   Source: Washington Driver Guide — Driving Under the Influence (1.15)

4. 4. Why can legally obtained over-the-counter or prescription drugs still lead to an impaired driving charge?

   Correct answer: They can impair reflexes, judgment, vision, and alertness

   Being legal does not make a drug safe to drive on. Many medications affect reflexes, judgment, vision, and alertness, and impaired driving is a crime regardless of how the drug was obtained.

   Source: Washington Driver Guide — Medications and Driving (3.1)

5. 5. For drivers 21 and older, how much active THC in the blood is treated as a DUI in Washington?

   Correct answer: More than 5 nanograms per milliliter

   For those 21 and up, a DUI level is passed once active THC tops 5 nanograms in each milliliter of blood. Drivers under 21 can be charged for any measurable trace at all.

   Source: Washington Driver Guide — THC Cannabis Concentration (1.15)

6. 6. What can happen if you refuse to take a test for alcohol or drugs when lawfully asked?

   Correct answer: Your driving privilege is suspended from 90 to 730 days, or until age 21

   Turning down the test can suspend your driving privilege anywhere from 90 up to 730 days, or until your 21st birthday, whichever lasts longer. The exact length depends on your history.

   Source: Washington Driver Guide — Driving Under the Influence (1.15)

7. 7. What is polydrug use, and why is it especially dangerous for drivers?

   Correct answer: Mixing more than one drug, which can multiply impairing effects

   Polydrug use is mixing more than one type of drug. Combining substances can multiply their effects and is the most common impairment in fatal crashes.

   Source: Washington Driver Guide — Polydrug Use and Driving (3.1)

8. 8. In Washington, driving after consuming cannabis is legal for which drivers?

   Correct answer: No one; it is illegal for all ages

   Adults 21 and older may use recreational cannabis, yet getting behind the wheel after any cannabis use breaks the law at every age.

   Source: Washington Driver Guide — Cannabis and Driving (3.1)

9. 9. Which substance is the most common one involved in impaired driving crashes?

   Correct answer: Alcohol

   Among substances that cause impaired-driving crashes, alcohol shows up most often. Watch for impaired drivers and give them a wide berth.

   Source: Washington Driver Guide — Alcohol and Driving (3.1)

10. 10. A DUI conviction in Washington can result in a driving privilege suspension for how long?

    Correct answer: From 90 days up to 4 years

    A DUI conviction can suspend driving privileges anywhere from 90 days up to 4 years, along with penalties like an ignition interlock device and higher insurance rates.

    Source: Washington Driver Guide — Driving Under the Influence (1.15)

11. 11. Under Washington's implied consent law, what have all drivers agreed to?

    Correct answer: To be tested when an officer suspects impairment

    Anyone who drives in the state has, by law, consented to testing whenever an officer reasonably believes the driver is impaired by alcohol or drugs. A refusal brings its own penalties.

    Source: Washington Driver Guide — Driving Under the Influence (1.15)

12. 12. Under Washington's open container law, where may opened alcohol or cannabis products be carried in a vehicle?

    Correct answer: Only in a trunk or truck bed

    Open alcohol and cannabis products may be transported only in a trunk or truck bed. They cannot be kept in any storage area the driver can reach.

    Source: Washington Driver Guide — Open Container Law (1.15)