SC DMV Alcohol, Drugs, and Driving 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for drivers 21 and over in South Carolina?
- 0.08% (Correct answer)
- 0.10%
- 0.05%
- 0.06%
Correct answer: 0.08%
South Carolina, like all US states, sets the per se DUI BAC limit at 0.08% for non-commercial drivers aged 21 and older.
Question 2: What is the legal BAC limit for drivers under 21 in South Carolina?
- 0.02% (Correct answer)
- 0.05%
- 0.08%
- Zero tolerance — 0.00%
Correct answer: 0.02%
South Carolina enforces a 0.02% BAC limit for drivers under 21, effectively a near-zero tolerance policy for underage drinking and driving.
Question 3: What does SC's 'implied consent' law mean?
- By driving in SC, you consent to chemical tests if lawfully arrested for DUI (Correct answer)
- You agree to let police search your vehicle at any time
- You consent to roadside sobriety tests when asked
- Your car is implicitly registered when you drive it
Correct answer: By driving in SC, you consent to chemical tests if lawfully arrested for DUI
Implied consent means that operating a vehicle in SC constitutes automatic agreement to submit to breath, blood, or urine testing if arrested for DUI.
Question 4: What happens to your license if you refuse a breath test in South Carolina?
- Automatic suspension for 6 months for a first refusal (Correct answer)
- No penalty — refusal is your right
- Suspension for 30 days
- Criminal charge only, no suspension
Correct answer: Automatic suspension for 6 months for a first refusal
Under SC's implied consent law, refusing a breath test results in an automatic 6-month license suspension for a first offense.
Question 5: Alcohol affects driving ability primarily by:
- Reducing judgment, reaction time, and coordination (Correct answer)
- Improving alertness in small amounts
- Only affecting vision
- Having no effect below 0.05% BAC
Correct answer: Reducing judgment, reaction time, and coordination
Even small amounts of alcohol impair judgment, slow reaction time, and reduce coordination, all critical driving skills.
Question 6: Which of the following is the only effective way to sober up after drinking?
- Time (Correct answer)
- Coffee
- Cold shower
- Exercise
Correct answer: Time
Only time allows the body to metabolize alcohol; coffee, cold showers, and exercise do not speed up the process or reduce impairment.
SC DMV Alcohol, Drugs, and Driving 1
What is the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for drivers 21 and over in South Carolina?