CHP DUI Detection and Enforcement 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: For a driver of a commercial vehicle, the legal BAC limit in California is:
- 0.08%
- 0.06%
- 0.04% (Correct answer)
- 0.02%
Correct answer: 0.04%
California Vehicle Code 23152(d) sets the BAC limit at 0.04% for persons operating a commercial motor vehicle.
Question 2: During the One-Leg Stand (OLS) test, for how many seconds must the suspect hold their foot approximately six inches off the ground?
- 15 seconds
- 20 seconds
- 25 seconds
- 30 seconds (Correct answer)
Correct answer: 30 seconds
The standardized OLS test requires the subject to hold the raised foot position for 30 seconds while counting aloud.
Question 3: Nystagmus during the HGN test is characterized by:
- Pupil dilation when exposed to light
- Involuntary jerking of the eyes (Correct answer)
- Inability to track a moving object
- Redness of the sclera
Correct answer: Involuntary jerking of the eyes
Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus is the involuntary jerking of the eyes, which becomes more pronounced with alcohol or CNS depressant impairment.
Question 4: Which type of DUI checkpoint is specifically authorized under California law and has been upheld by the California Supreme Court?
- Random roving patrols
- Sobriety checkpoints with advance notice and neutral criteria (Correct answer)
- Officer-discretion stops at any location
- Checkpoints only on state highways
Correct answer: Sobriety checkpoints with advance notice and neutral criteria
In Ingersoll v. Palmer (1987), the California Supreme Court upheld sobriety checkpoints that follow specific operational guidelines including advance publicity and neutral selection criteria.
Question 5: Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) evaluations assess impairment from drugs using a protocol of how many steps?
- 8
- 10
- 12 (Correct answer)
- 15
Correct answer: 12
The NHTSA-approved DRE protocol consists of 12 steps to systematically determine whether a suspect is drug-impaired and identify the drug category.
Question 6: Under California law, a first-offense DUI conviction typically results in a maximum jail sentence of:
- 6 months (Correct answer)
- 12 months
- 18 months
- 24 months
Correct answer: 6 months
A standard first-offense misdemeanor DUI under CVC 23152 carries up to six months in county jail.
Question 7: Which of the following drug categories is most commonly identified in DUI drug cases as a CNS depressant?
- Cannabis
- Cocaine
- Alcohol and benzodiazepines (Correct answer)
- Methamphetamine
Correct answer: Alcohol and benzodiazepines
Alcohol and benzodiazepines (such as Valium or Xanax) are both classified as CNS depressants in the DRE seven-category drug classification system.
CHP DUI Detection and Enforcement 2
For a driver of a commercial vehicle, the legal BAC limit in California is: