Administrative suspension and how alcohol affects you

Key points

1. The administrative suspension is a civil penalty separate from criminal penalties in court.

   Source: Handbook p. 126

   “The ALS penalty is a civil penalty and is separate and apart from any criminal penalties imposed by the court system.”
   Idaho Driver's Handbook, Handbook p. 126

2. You may request a hearing within 7 days of the notice of suspension.

   Source: Handbook p. 125

   “You have the right to request an administrative hearing on the suspension within seven (7) days of the date on the notice of suspension”
   Idaho Driver's Handbook, Handbook p. 125

3. The notice takes effect 30 days after you receive it.

   Source: Handbook p. 126

   “Your notice of suspension becomes effective thirty (30) days after the date of service”
   Idaho Driver's Handbook, Handbook p. 126

4. A first failure means a 90 day suspension with no driving at all for the first 30 days.

   Source: Handbook p. 126

   “For a first failure, your driving privileges will be suspended for a period of ninety (90) days. You will have absolutely no driving privileges during the first thirty (30) days”
   Idaho Driver's Handbook, Handbook p. 126

5. Afterward you need an ignition interlock on any vehicle you drive for 1 year.

   Source: Handbook p. 126

   “You will be required to have an ignition interlock device installed on any vehicle you drive for one (1) year after the end of your suspension period.”
   Idaho Driver's Handbook, Handbook p. 126

6. Slightly above .05, crash risk doubles; at .10 it is six times as great; at .15, 25 times.

   Source: Handbook p. 128

   “At slightly above .05, the risk of causing a crash doubles. At .10, the risk is six times as great. At .15, the risk is 25 times as great.”
   Idaho Driver's Handbook, Handbook p. 128

7. A 1.5 ounce jigger of liquor, 5 ounces of wine and 12 ounces of beer hold about the same alcohol.

   Source: Handbook p. 129

   “A jigger (1.5 ounces) of 80-proof hard liquor, five ounces of table wine, or 12 ounces of beer all contain approximately the same amount of alcohol”
   Idaho Driver's Handbook, Handbook p. 129

8. Once alcohol is in your blood, only time will return you to normal.

   Source: Handbook p. 129

   “Only time will return you to normal.”
   Idaho Driver's Handbook, Handbook p. 129

9. Drivers and passengers may not drink or hold an open container of alcohol.

   Source: Handbook p. 130

   “Idaho's open container law prohibits both drivers and passengers from drinking or possessing an open beverage container of alcohol.”
   Idaho Driver's Handbook, Handbook p. 130

Numbers to know

3 questions from the Idaho practice test

1. 1. How does an Idaho Administrative License Suspension relate to criminal DUI penalties?

   1. It begins only after a criminal conviction
   2. It replaces the criminal case after a failed test
   3. It applies only to commercial drivers
   4. It is a separate civil penalty from criminal penalties imposed by a court
   Show answer

   It is a separate civil penalty from criminal penalties imposed by a court. An ALS is an Idaho Transportation Department action tied to failure of an evidentiary test over the legal limit. The handbook describes it as a civil penalty that is separate from criminal penalties imposed through the court system. The conviction-only choice is wrong because the suspension process does not wait for the criminal case to finish. A driver receiving an ALS must meet its requirements and still appear in court for the separate DUI charges.

2. 2. What happens during the first 30 days of an Idaho first failure administrative license suspension?

   1. Full privileges continue
   2. Absolutely no driving privileges during the first 30 days of the 90 day suspension
   3. Work driving only
   4. A $250 fine replaces the suspension
   Show answer

   Absolutely no driving privileges during the first 30 days of the 90 day suspension. For a first failure of an evidentiary test, driving privileges are suspended for 90 days, with absolutely no driving privileges during the first 30 days, after which a restricted permit may be possible with an ignition interlock. The administrative suspension is a civil penalty separate from any criminal court penalty for DUI, and a hearing can be requested within the notice period.

3. 3. How does crash risk change at alcohol concentrations above .05, according to the Idaho handbook?

   1. It is unchanged until .08
   2. It doubles slightly above .05, is six times as great at .10, and 25 times at .15
   3. It falls slightly
   4. It rises only at .15
   Show answer

   It doubles slightly above .05, is six times as great at .10, and 25 times at .15. If you drink enough to push your alcohol concentration past .05 be careful: at slightly above .05 the risk of causing a crash doubles, at .10 it is six times as great, and at .15 it is 25 times as great. Impairment starts long before the legal limit, and you may be convicted of DUI below .08 when other substances are involved.

Source: the Idaho Driver's Handbook, What Affects Your Driving Privilege and Record. This lesson is a plain English summary, not the law itself; where it differs, the manual and the statute govern. Last checked 2026-09-27.