Practice question

What could happen if you refuse a test to determine the amount of alcohol in your body?

  1. Your driver's license may be suspended
  2. You will be arrested
  3. You will be fined only
  4. Nothing happens

Answer: A — Your driver's license may be suspended

Refusing a test taps into the idea of implied consent: by driving, you’re agreeing to take a chemical test if a police officer has a reasonable suspicion you’ve been drinking. If you refuse, the automatic consequence is that your driver's license can be suspended for a period, separate from any criminal charges you might face. The suspension happens because you declined the test, not because you were proven drunk in that moment, and it’s designed to encourage compliance with testing. So the most accurate outcome is that your license may be suspended. The other options aren’t reliable: you aren’t guaranteed an arrest just for refusing, fines aren’t the only or guaranteed result, and saying nothing happens isn’t true because a suspension usually follows a refusal.

Practice more: Safeway Driving Reality Check Adult Class Practice Exam →