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California driving lesson · Alcohol, Drugs & DUI

DUI laws, medications & open containers

A 3-minute lesson from the California course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

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Read time
3 minutes
Course unit
Alcohol, Drugs & DUI
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
78

California's DUI laws cover alcohol and drugs, including legal medicine. If a substance affects your ability to drive safely, driving after taking it is illegal at any age.

Know the rule

It is illegal to drive under the influence of alcohol or any drug that affects your ability to drive safely.

Handbook p. 78 ↗

Know the rule

The law does not distinguish between illegal drugs and medications from a doctor or pharmacy. Read labels and know the effects of any drug you use.

Handbook p. 78 ↗

At any age, it is illegal to drive after:

  • Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol in any form, including medications like cough syrup
  • Taking any drug that affects your ability to drive, including prescription or over-the-counter
  • Using any combination of alcohol or drugs that decreases your ability to drive safely
Handbook p. 78 ↗

Know the rule

As you age, your tolerance to alcohol decreases, increasing the risk of alcohol-related driving problems.

Handbook p. 78 ↗

Know the rule

If an officer thinks you are driving under the influence, they may ask you to take a blood or urine test. If you refuse, DMV will suspend or revoke your driving privilege for one year.

Handbook p. 78 ↗

Know the rule

If you are 13 to 20 and convicted of riding a bicycle under the influence of alcohol or drugs, your driving privilege may be suspended or delayed for one year once you're eligible.

Handbook p. 78 ↗

Know the rule

It is illegal to drink alcohol or smoke or eat a cannabis product while driving or riding as a passenger.

Handbook p. 78 ↗

Know the rule

Alcohol or cannabis carried in the vehicle must be sealed and unopened. If opened, keep it in the trunk or where passengers don't sit, never in the glove box.

Handbook p. 78 ↗

Know the rule

The open-container law does not apply to passengers in a bus, taxi, camper, or motorhome.

Handbook p. 78 ↗

Put it into practice

After a party, your friend puts a half-finished bottle of wine in your glove box. That's illegal. An opened container must go in the trunk or another area where passengers do not sit.

Check your understanding

Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.

If an officer suspects DUI and asks for a blood or urine test, what happens if you refuse?
  1. Nothing happens without a conviction
  2. A 30-day suspension
  3. A 1-year suspension or revocation
  4. A 6-month suspension

Answer: A 1-year suspension or revocation

Refusing a requested blood or urine test when DUI is suspected results in a one-year suspension or revocation.

Handbook p. 78 ↗
If you carry an open container of alcohol in your vehicle, where must it be kept?
  1. In the glove box
  2. In the trunk or away from passengers
  3. Under the driver's seat
  4. In the back seat, capped

Answer: In the trunk or away from passengers

An open alcohol container must be kept in the trunk or another area passengers don't occupy; the glove box does not count.

Handbook p. 78 ↗
Where does the vehicle open-container law NOT apply?
  1. If you are a passenger in a standard sedan
  2. If the container is less than half full
  3. As a bus, taxi, camper, or RV passenger
  4. If the vehicle is parked with the engine off

Answer: As a bus, taxi, camper, or RV passenger

The open-container restriction does not apply to passengers in a bus, taxi, camper, or motorhome.

Handbook p. 78 ↗
Does California law distinguish between illegal drugs and prescribed medications for DUI purposes?
  1. Yes, prescribed medications are always exempt
  2. Yes, if you have a valid prescription
  3. Yes, only over-the-counter medications are exempt
  4. No, both can cause a DUI

Answer: No, both can cause a DUI

The law does not distinguish between illegal drugs and prescribed or over-the-counter medications that impair driving.

Handbook p. 78 ↗
It is illegal to drive under the influence of alcohol or any drug that affects your ability to drive safely.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: True

California's DUI laws cover both alcohol and any impairing drug.

Handbook p. 78 ↗
A bicyclist aged 13-20 is convicted of riding under the influence. What can result?
  1. No effect on their driving privilege
  2. Suspension or delay of the privilege for 1 year
  3. A lifetime driving ban
  4. A 30-day delay of the privilege

Answer: Suspension or delay of the privilege for 1 year

A conviction for riding a bicycle under the influence at age 13-20 can suspend or delay driving eligibility by a year.

Handbook p. 78 ↗
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