Key Massachusetts facts: Alcohol & Drugs
A BAC of 0.08 or higher is above the legal limit. Chapter 3, Alcohol Tests, p. 73 Under the zero-tolerance law, a driver under 21 faces penalties at a BAC of 0.02 or higher. Chapter 3, Alcohol Tests and Under-21 Alcohol Offenses, p. 73 A first OUI conviction carries a $500 to $5,000 fine and up to 2 1/2 years in prison. Chapter 3, Penalties for Operating Under the Influence, p. 68 A first OUI conviction brings a one-year license suspension. Chapter 3, Penalties for Operating Under the Influence, p. 68 A second OUI conviction brings a two-year suspension, a $600 to $10,000 fine and at least 30 days in prison. Chapter 3, Penalties for Operating Under the Influence, p. 68 Sample Alcohol & Drugs questions
You are 20. When may you carry alcohol in your car under Massachusetts law?
Whenever a 21-year-old friend rides along Whenever it is in the trunk Only when with a parent or guardian Whenever it is sealed Show the answer
Only when with a parent or guardian
Under 21, you may not possess, carry or transport alcohol unless a parent or guardian is with you.
Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual (Revised April 2026), Chapter 3, Buying, Possessing, or Transporting Alcohol, p. 74
How long is the license suspension for a second OUI conviction?
Five years One year Eight years Two years Show the answer
Two years
A second conviction brings two years, along with a higher fine and at least 30 days in prison.
Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual (Revised April 2026), Chapter 3, Penalties for Operating Under the Influence, p. 68
You are 19 and try to buy alcohol. What happens to your license?
It is suspended for three years It is suspended for 180 days It is suspended for 30 days Nothing, since you were not driving Show the answer
It is suspended for 180 days
Buying or trying to buy alcohol under 21 brings a 180-day suspension.
Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual (Revised April 2026), Chapter 3, Buying, Possessing, or Transporting Alcohol, p. 74
A 17-year-old fails a chemical test. Before any reduction for alcohol education, what license suspension follows?
Three years plus one year 30 days only 30 days plus one year 30 days plus 180 days Show the answer
30 days plus one year
Drivers under 18 get 30 days and one additional year. A first case can reduce the extra year to 180 days through approved education.
Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual (Revised April 2026), Chapter 3, License Suspension Periods for Failed Chemical Tests, p. 69
You are over 21 with no prior OUI and refuse a chemical test. How long is your license suspended?
30 days Three years One year 180 days Show the answer
180 days
With no prior OUI offense, a refusal costs 180 days. The period grows with each prior offense, up to a lifetime.
Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual (Revised April 2026), Chapter 3, License Suspension Periods for Refusing a Chemical Test, p. 70
Massachusetts has decriminalized some marijuana possession. Is driving under its influence legal?
Yes, if it was eaten and not smoked No, it is still a crime Yes, for adults over 21 Yes, below a set amount Show the answer
No, it is still a crime
Driving under the influence of marijuana remains criminal, and the OUI penalties apply.
Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual (Revised April 2026), Chapter 3, Marijuana, p. 75
How long is the license suspension for a first OUI conviction, before any court-allowed reduction?
Six months 30 days One year Two years Show the answer
One year
The chart lists one year for a first conviction.
Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual (Revised April 2026), Chapter 3, Penalties for Operating Under the Influence, p. 68
When can a Massachusetts officer ask you for a breath or blood test to measure your BAC?
At any traffic stop for any reason Only with a judge's signed order Once you have been arrested Only after a crash with injuries Show the answer
Once you have been arrested
An officer who suspects OUI can ask for a field sobriety test, and for a breath or blood test after an arrest.
Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual (Revised April 2026), Chapter 3, Alcohol Tests, p. 72
Under the Massachusetts zero-tolerance law, what BAC can cost a driver under 21 their license?
As low as 0.05 As low as 0.08 As low as 0.02 As low as 0.10 Show the answer
As low as 0.02
Drivers under 21 face penalties at 0.02 or higher, far below the adult limit.
Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual (Revised April 2026), Chapter 3, Alcohol Tests and Under-21 Alcohol Offenses, p. 73
You are 30 and fail a chemical test. How long does the license suspension run before any court outcome?
180 days, whatever the court decides Nothing until you are convicted 30 days, or until the case ends if sooner One year, whatever the court decides Show the answer
30 days, or until the case ends if sooner
The suspension is 30 days or the length of the court case, whichever is shorter.
Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual (Revised April 2026), Chapter 3, License Suspension Periods for Failed Chemical Tests, p. 69
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About these questions
We wrote these practice questions from the facts in the Massachusetts Driver's Manual (Revised April 2026 (cover letter), English PDF, text read in the built-in browser on 2026-11-08 because mass.gov refuses plain downloads; page numbers in sections are the manual's printed numbers (PDF page = printed page + 8) edition) and from official sources on road signs. Every answer links to its source, so you can check it and read more.
DMV Decoded is an independent guide, not a government agency. This practice test is not connected to the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV), and your actual test will have different questions. Study the handbook, and check the agency's website for current rules.
