Zero Tolerance for Drivers Under 21

Key points

1. Under 21, driving with any measurable alcohol in your blood or breath is unlawful.

   Source: Handbook p. 67

   “for any person under 21 years of age to drive, operate or be in actual physical control (APC) of a motor vehicle within our state who: ■ Has ANY measurable quantity of alcohol in the person’s blood or breath”
   Oklahoma Driver Manual, Handbook p. 67

2. Under zero tolerance, a first DUI, APC, test refusal or measurable BAC offense means revocation for 6 months.

   Source: Handbook p. 67

   “First conviction or offense for driving under the influence (DUI), actual physical control (APC), refusal of the breath or blood test or a measurable amount of BAC, the revocation would be for a period of SIX MONTHS.”
   Oklahoma Driver Manual, Handbook p. 67

3. If you are under 16 at the time or at the end of the cancellation, it is extended until you turn 16.

   Source: Handbook p. 67

   “If you are less than 16 years of age at the time or will be less than 16 at the end of the cancellation, Service Oklahoma shall extend the cancellation until you are 16 years of age.”
   Oklahoma Driver Manual, Handbook p. 67

4. A second DUI, APC, test refusal or measurable BAC offense means revocation for 12 months.

   Source: Handbook p. 67

   “Second conviction or offense for DUI, APC or refusal of the breath or blood test or a measurable amount of BAC, the second revocation would be for a period of 12 MONTHS.”
   Oklahoma Driver Manual, Handbook p. 67

5. Under 18, the court may choose a cancellation period of 6 months, 1 year, or 2 years or until age 21, whichever is longer.

   Source: Handbook p. 67

   “PENALTIES FOR PERSONS UNDER 18 At the discretion of the court, a period of: ■ 6 months ■ 1 year ■ 2 years or until the person attains the age of 21 years, whichever period of time is longer”
   Oklahoma Driver Manual, Handbook p. 67

Numbers to know

3 questions from the Oklahoma practice test

1. 1. What alcohol condition violates Oklahoma's Zero Tolerance Law for a driver under 21?

   1. Only alcohol combined with a traffic collision
   2. Only a BAC of 0.02 or higher
   3. Only a BAC of 0.08 or higher
   4. Any measurable quantity in the blood or breath
   Show answer

   Any measurable quantity in the blood or breath. Oklahoma's under 21 rule prohibits driving, operating, or being in actual physical control with any measurable quantity of alcohol in the person's blood or breath when tested. It does not wait for 0.02 or 0.08, and a collision is not required. The word measurable is the exam cue: a small detected amount is enough for this special rule, even though adult criminal and administrative thresholds use different figures.

2. 2. After a first Zero Tolerance conviction or offense, how long is the Oklahoma license revocation period?

   1. 30 days
   2. Six months
   3. Twelve months
   4. Two years
   Show answer

   Six months. The first listed Zero Tolerance revocation period is six months. Twelve months belongs to the second conviction or offense, while two years is not the first-offense period in this section. Thirty days appears elsewhere in the manual as a suspension period in another alcohol-related context, so it is an especially tempting mix-up. When studying this chart, connect first offense with six months and second offense with twelve months.

3. 3. A 15 year old in Oklahoma loses driving privileges under the Zero Tolerance law, and the revocation would end before the 16th birthday. What does Service Oklahoma do?

   1. Ends the cancellation on schedule
   2. Makes the cancellation permanent
   3. Extends the cancellation until the person turns 16
   4. Replaces it with community service
   Show answer

   Extends the cancellation until the person turns 16. When a person is under 16 at the time, or would still be under 16 when the cancellation ends, Service Oklahoma extends the cancellation until the person reaches 16. So it does not simply end on the original date. It is not permanent, and community service is a possible penalty alongside revocation rather than a replacement for it. This keeps a young offender from driving before the normal licensing age.

Source: the Oklahoma Driver Manual, Chapter 12: Alcohol, Drugs and Driving. 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.