Alcohol, Drugs, and Distracted or Drowsy Driving
Impairment begins before you feel drunk. The NJ exam tests legal limits, zero-tolerance rules, implied consent, and the fact that distraction and drowsiness mimic alcohol.
Alcohol and drugs
- 0.08% BAC is the adult DUI threshold; commercial drivers are lower (0.04%).
- Under 21: zero tolerance - 0.01% or more is a violation.
- Implied consent: by driving in NJ you agree to a breath or blood test; refusal carries penalties.
- Prescription and over-the-counter drugs can impair; a warning label does not create a defense.
- Open containers of alcohol in a vehicle are prohibited.
Distraction and drowsiness
- NJ prohibits handheld cell phone use and texting while driving; use hands-free only when lawful and safe.
- Drowsy driving causes microsleeps; opening a window or turning up the radio does not restore alertness. Stop and rest.
Worked example
A 20-year-old driver blows 0.02% BAC. That is below 0.08%, but the driver is under 21. Under zero tolerance, any measurable alcohol at 0.01% or higher supports a violation. The adult threshold does not apply.
Traps
Believing coffee, a cold shower, or food sobers you up; assuming a prescription drug is always safe to drive with; and thinking a first DUI is only a ticket. In NJ, DUI carries license loss, fines, and possible jail.