SD DMV Alcohol, Drugs, and Driving 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In South Dakota, what is the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for non-commercial drivers age 21 and older?
- 0.04%
- 0.06%
- 0.08% (Correct answer)
- 0.10%
Correct answer: 0.08%
South Dakota law sets the legal BAC limit at 0.08% for drivers age 21 and older operating non-commercial vehicles.
Question 2: Under South Dakota's Zero Tolerance Law, a driver under age 21 can be charged with a DUI if their BAC is at or above:
- 0.00%
- 0.02% (Correct answer)
- 0.04%
- 0.08%
Correct answer: 0.02%
South Dakota's Zero Tolerance Law prohibits drivers under 21 from operating a vehicle with a BAC of 0.02% or higher.
Question 3: What is the BAC limit for commercial vehicle drivers in South Dakota?
- 0.02%
- 0.04% (Correct answer)
- 0.06%
- 0.08%
Correct answer: 0.04%
Commercial vehicle drivers in South Dakota are held to a stricter standard of 0.04% BAC, half the limit for regular drivers.
Question 4: South Dakota's implied consent law means that by driving on public roads you have automatically agreed to:
- Attend a DUI education class if pulled over
- Submit to a chemical test if an officer suspects impairment (Correct answer)
- Pay a higher insurance premium
- Carry a breathalyzer in your vehicle
Correct answer: Submit to a chemical test if an officer suspects impairment
Implied consent means that by driving on South Dakota public roads, you agree to submit to a chemical test (breath, blood, or urine) if law enforcement suspects impairment.
Question 5: If you refuse a chemical test when lawfully requested by an officer in South Dakota, your driver's license will be:
- Suspended for 30 days
- Revoked for 1 year (Correct answer)
- Fined $100 only
- Given a warning
Correct answer: Revoked for 1 year
Refusing a lawfully requested chemical test in South Dakota results in a mandatory one-year license revocation under the implied consent law.
Question 6: Alcohol primarily affects driving ability by:
- Improving night vision
- Slowing reaction time and impairing judgment (Correct answer)
- Increasing alertness at low doses with no impairment
- Only affecting balance, not driving performance
Correct answer: Slowing reaction time and impairing judgment
Alcohol slows reaction time, impairs judgment, reduces coordination, and diminishes the ability to track moving objects, all of which are critical for safe driving.
Question 7: Which of the following is the only reliable method to sober up after drinking alcohol?
- Drinking black coffee
- Taking a cold shower
- Eating a large meal
- Allowing time to pass (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Allowing time to pass
Only time allows the liver to metabolize alcohol; coffee, food, and cold showers may make you feel more alert but do not lower your BAC.
SD DMV Alcohol, Drugs, and Driving 1
In South Dakota, what is the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for non-commercial drivers age 21 and older?