NC DMV Alcohol and Drug Impairment Laws 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In North Carolina, what is the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for drivers under 21 years old?
- 0.00% — any detectable amount (Correct answer)
- 0.02%
- 0.04%
- 0.08%
Correct answer: 0.00% — any detectable amount
North Carolina has a zero-tolerance law making it illegal for drivers under 21 to drive with any alcohol in their system.
Question 2: What is the BAC limit for a person driving a commercial motor vehicle in North Carolina?
- 0.04% (Correct answer)
- 0.08%
- 0.02%
- 0.06%
Correct answer: 0.04%
Commercial drivers in North Carolina are considered impaired at a BAC of 0.04%, half the standard limit.
Question 3: Under North Carolina's implied consent law, what happens if you refuse a chemical test after a lawful DWI arrest?
- Your license is revoked for at least one year (Correct answer)
- You receive only a written warning
- You are fined but keep your license
- Nothing, unless you are convicted
Correct answer: Your license is revoked for at least one year
Refusing a chemical test triggers an automatic license revocation of at least 12 months, separate from any DWI conviction.
Question 4: A driver stopped in North Carolina has an open container of alcohol in the passenger area of the vehicle. What does the law say?
- It is illegal to have an open alcohol container in the passenger area while driving (Correct answer)
- It is legal if the driver is not drinking
- It is legal if the container is less than half full
- It is only illegal after 9 p.m.
Correct answer: It is illegal to have an open alcohol container in the passenger area while driving
North Carolina law prohibits open containers of alcohol in the passenger area of a motor vehicle on a highway.
Question 5: Which of the following can result in a DWI charge in North Carolina even if the driver's BAC is below 0.08%?
- Being appreciably impaired by any impairing substance (Correct answer)
- Driving with a passenger who has been drinking
- Having empty beer cans in the trunk
- Buying alcohol earlier that day
Correct answer: Being appreciably impaired by any impairing substance
A driver can be convicted of DWI if appreciably impaired by alcohol, drugs, or any other impairing substance, regardless of BAC.
Question 6: How does alcohol primarily affect a person's driving ability?
- It slows reaction time and impairs judgment (Correct answer)
- It only affects vision, not decision-making
- It improves focus in small amounts
- It affects only drivers who feel drunk
Correct answer: It slows reaction time and impairs judgment
Alcohol is a depressant that slows reaction time, reduces coordination, and impairs judgment even at low levels.
Question 7: In North Carolina, can a driver be charged with impaired driving for using legally prescribed medication?
- Yes, if the medication appreciably impairs their driving (Correct answer)
- No, prescriptions are always a legal defense
- Only if the prescription is expired
- Only for narcotic painkillers
Correct answer: Yes, if the medication appreciably impairs their driving
A valid prescription is not a defense to DWI if the drug appreciably impairs the driver's mental or physical faculties.
NC DMV Alcohol and Drug Impairment Laws 2
In North Carolina, what is the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for drivers under 21 years old?