What happens if you refuse to give a breath sample to a police officer?
NL Class 5 overview
NL Class 5: Impaired driving
Blood alcohol limits for learners, novices and full licence holders, what raises BAC, drugs and cannabis, roadside suspensions, Criminal Code penalties, ignition interlock and education programs.
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Study reference: Newfoundland and Labrador Driver's Handbook (2025 edition), Ch. 2 Road Safety — Impaired driving, Penalties, Mandatory ignition interlock, pp. 34–41
All 19 questions in this test
Every question and its answer choices. The correct answers and explanations appear when you take the test above.
What happens if you refuse to give a breath sample to a police officer?
- Federal and provincial penalties can apply
- You get a warning only
- Nothing, it is voluntary
- You must take the written test and road test again
What is the maximum prison term for leaving the scene of a collision?
- Six months
- Ten years
- Five years
- Two years
Which effect of alcohol makes drivers take more risks?
- Better judgment of speed
- Faster reaction time
- A false sense of confidence
- Sharper night vision
Which substances can a roadside saliva test detect?
- Caffeine and nicotine
- Antihistamines and painkillers
- Alcohol only
- THC, methamphetamine and MDMA
How long is the suspension for a first Criminal Code impaired driving conviction?
- 60 months
- 12 months
- 90 days
- 36 months
Two people drink the same amount, one after a meal and one on an empty stomach. Who will likely have the higher BAC?
- The one who ate
- The one with the empty stomach
- Both will be the same
- The larger of the two drinkers
What does a BAC of 0.05 mean?
- 5 drinks in the last hour
- 5% alcohol in your breath
- 0.05 g of alcohol in every 100 ml of blood
- 0.05 litres of alcohol in the body
It is illegal for a fully licensed Class 5 driver to drive with a BAC at or above what level?
- 0.08
- 0.05
- 0.10
- 0.02
A driver is found with a BAC of 80 mg (per 100 mL of blood) or more. What happens right away?
- A fine with no suspension
- Impound and a 7-day suspension
- A warning and a ride home
- A 24-hour suspension, but no impoundment
How many drinks can it take for a driver to reach a BAC of 0.05?
- Just one
- At least five
- At least three
- It depends only on the hour
Your doctor prescribes a new medication. What does the handbook advise about driving?
- Drive only at night
- Avoid driving until you know its effects
- Drive normally if it is prescribed
- Drink coffee to offset it
A driver gets a second seven-day administrative suspension within 24 months. How long is it?
- 90 days
- 7 days
- Two months
- 14 days
How does being tired affect your blood alcohol level?
- It has no effect on BAC
- BAC rises faster when you are fatigued
- Tiredness lowers your BAC
- It only affects drug impairment
After the immediate seven-day suspension for a BAC of 80 mg or more, when does the 90-day suspension begin?
- 30 days later
- 14 days after the seven days end
- The next day
- After a court conviction for the offence
Besides learners and accompanying drivers, which drivers does the handbook say must keep a zero BAC?
- Commercial drivers only
- All drivers under 25
- Inexperienced drivers under 22
- Drivers over 70
An interlock is installed in a car shared by two family members. Who must use it?
- Only drivers under 22
- Only the convicted driver
- No one on short trips
- Anyone who drives that vehicle
After a first impaired driving conviction, how long must an ignition interlock be used?
- At least 12 months
- 3 months after reinstatement
- 5 years
- At least 6 months
Is driving after using cannabis treated as impaired driving?
- Only if you also drank alcohol
- Only above 0.08
- No, it is safer than alcohol
- Yes, it is impaired driving
What does an ignition interlock device do?
- Prevents starting if it detects alcohol
- Limits the vehicle's top speed to 80 km/h
- Locks the doors when parked
- Records the vehicle's location
Impaired driving: key rules to remember
Our summary of what the official handbook says on this topic, in our own words. Read it before or after the practice questions above, then check the original chapter. Read the official chapter ↗
Impaired driving
- Alcohol, drugs, and even over-the-counter or prescription medications can impair driving.
- Illegal: driving when ordered not to or while suspended; leaving the scene of a collision. Penalties: fines, up to 2 years in prison, driving prohibition up to 3 years.
- Criminal Code maximums: impaired causing bodily harm up to 10 years prison + up to 10-year prohibition; impaired causing death up to 14 years prison + up to 10-year prohibition; criminal negligence causing bodily harm 10 years / 10 years; manslaughter or criminal negligence causing death up to life + lifetime prohibition.
- BAC = grams of alcohol per 100 ml blood (0.05 = 0.05 g per 100 ml).
- Zero BAC: learners, inexperienced drivers under 22, accompanying drivers.
- Fully licensed Class 5: illegal at 0.05 or more. One drink can reach it.
Factors
- Smaller person → higher BAC; females usually higher than similar-size male; fatigue raises BAC faster; food slows absorption (empty stomach → higher); illness; stronger drinks; faster drinking.
- Effects: worse multitasking, slower reactions, poor speed judgment, impaired eye muscles/vision, false confidence.
- Drugs: sleeping tablets, sedatives, muscle relaxants, antihistamines, some cold/flu medicines, painkillers can impair. New medication: avoid driving until you know its effects.
Cannabis, saliva testing, refusal
- Cannabis causes drowsiness, poor concentration, slower reactions, paranoia, distorted perception. Using it while driving = impaired driving.
- Saliva test strip on tongue detects THC, methamphetamine, MDMA; positive may lead to physical evaluation, divided attention tests, blood/urine.
- Alcohol + drugs combined = greater effect.
- Refusing a breath/blood sample: convicted under federal and provincial law.
Charges and penalties
- Charges under HTA and Criminal Code; HTA charges can't be appealed.
- Conviction: ignition interlock mandatory for one year; reinstatement fees/fines; approved alcohol education course.
- HTA: suspension from 24 hours up to 90 days. Conviction: 12 months first offence, up to 60 months subsequent.
- Seven-day suspensions within 24 months: 1st = 7 days (reinstatement fee); 2nd = 14 days (+ alcohol education); 3rd = two months (+ assessment/rehabilitation).
Ninety-day suspension
- BAC 80 mg or more: vehicle impounded and licence suspended 7 days immediately, then another 90 days, starting 14 days after the 7-day suspension ends.
- Criminal Code conviction after that: 12 months (1st), 36 months (2nd), 60 months (3rd), life (4th+).
- Criminal Code fines start at $1,000.
- Novice drivers above zero BAC are suspended.
Ignition interlock
- In-car breath device; vehicle won't start above the pre-set limit; random retests while driving; failure triggers warning, record, alarm (lights, horn) until ignition off.
- Mandatory program for convicted impaired drivers (drug, alcohol or both): minimum 12 months after suspension; restricted licence.
- Interlock period: 12 months (1st), 36 months (2nd), 60 months (3rd+). Driver pays installation, maintenance, removal.
- Once installed, anyone who drives that vehicle must use it.
Courses
- "Think First" (SHIP): mandatory 4-hour program after a 7-day then 90-day administrative suspension related to drugs/alcohol.
- ADT (Alcohol and Drug Treatment) mandatory for drivers convicted of a Criminal Code impaired offence before the interlock program.
Other topics
- Sign shapes and regulatory signsWhat each sign shape and colour means, the stop, yield, crossbuck and school signs, red-slash and green-circle signs, speed, turn, parking, one-way, keep-right and accessible parking signs.
- Warning signsYellow diamond warning signs for curves, hills, bumps, merges, lane endings, narrow bridges, divided highways, railway crossings, moose and falling rocks, plus the slow-moving vehicle sign and weather hazard signs.
- Construction zone signsOrange road construction signs, flag persons, survey and maintenance crews, doubled fines, hazard markers, over-dimensional load signs and zipper merge signs.
- Traffic lights and pedestrian signalsSolid and flashing lights, green arrows, right turns on red, police directions, walk and don't walk signals, and pedestrians who are blind or partially sighted.
- Pavement markingsStop lines and crosswalks, yellow and white lane lines, solid and broken lines for passing, lane arrows, painted islands and shared left-turn lanes.
- Licensing and graduated licensingWho can apply, the written test and 85% pass mark, Class 5I learner and Class 5II novice conditions, the novice driver sign, parental consent, road test timing, renewals and licence changes.
- Registration, insurance and vehicle equipmentRegistering, insuring and transferring a vehicle, penalties for driving uninsured, and the lights, tires, brakes, mirrors and windows the law requires.
- Seatbelts, distraction and fatigueSeatbelts and child car seats, trip planning, aggressive driving, cell phones and other distractions, driver fatigue, fitness to drive and fuel-efficient habits.
- Demerit points and suspensionsHow demerit points work, the 12-point and 6-point limits, high-risk speeding and stunting suspensions, the driving record, and courses that remove points or are needed for reinstatement.
- Speed limits and following distanceDefault speed limits when no sign is posted, school zone speeds, stopping, reaction and braking distance, the danger zone and the three-second rule.
- Right-of-way and intersectionsUncontrolled intersections, left turns, side roads and driveways, four-way stops, traffic lights that are out, passing-lane merges and yielding to emergency vehicles.
- Turns and roundaboutsLane choice for right and left turns on one-way and two-way streets, double left-turn lanes, two-point, three-point and U-turns, and how to enter, drive and exit a roundabout.
- Passing, lane changes and highwaysSafe passing and where it is not allowed, signalling, lane changes and blind spots, entering and leaving divided highways, cloverleafs, weave lanes, zipper merges, added lanes and shared left-turn lanes.
- Parking and backing upBacking safely, where you may not park and the distances from stop signs, crosswalks, hydrants, bus stops and railway crossings, parking on hills, parallel and angle parking.
- Sharing the roadVulnerable road users, the one-metre rule for cyclists and pedestrians, dooring, construction workers, school buses, emergency vehicles and the slow down, move over law.
- Night driving and bad weatherWhen headlights are required, dimming high beams, glare, overdriving your headlights, rain and hydroplaning, fog, ice, black ice, snow, winter skids and slow driving.
- Emergencies, collisions and mooseEmergency braking with and without ABS, skids, leaving the pavement, collisions and when to report them, avoiding head-on crashes, vehicles in water, breakdowns, equipment failures and moose on the road.