Courts commonly order DUI offenders to complete an alcohol education program, along with fines, loss of driving privileges, and possible jail time. A DUI conviction never ends with just a small fine, and the device a court may require is an ignition interlock, not a speed limiter.
After a first DUI conviction, South Dakota suspends the driving privilege for no less than one month; a court can order a longer period, and later convictions bring much stiffer penalties.
If you damage an unattended vehicle and its owner cannot be found, South Dakota requires two things: a note left on that vehicle with your contact details, and a prompt report of the crash to the nearest police authority, such as the Highway Patrol. Doing only one of them is not enough.
New South Dakota residents have 90 days to transfer a vehicle's registration from their previous state, and continuing to use the old plates after that is against the law.
Drivers under 21 are held to a zero-tolerance rule: a reading of 0.02% or more brings penalties such as license suspension, far below the 0.08% adult limit. Even a single drink can bring a young driver close to that level, so the only safe plan is not to drink before driving.
South Dakota examiners may refuse to begin the driving test whenever the vehicle raises a safety concern, such as an unsafe car, absent seat belts, or a console that blocks the examiner's reach to the brake. Inspect your vehicle before test day so the appointment is not wasted.
South Dakota sets the practice window for instruction permit holders at 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., with a licensed adult (18 or older, with at least a year of driving experience) seated beside the driver.
One standard drink equals either 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits; each holds about the same amount of alcohol. Choosing beer or wine over liquor does not make you any less impaired.
Under implied consent, getting a license and driving on public roads count as advance agreement to chemical testing, such as a breath test, when you are arrested on suspicion of drunk driving. Refusing the test usually brings its own penalties, including loss of your license.
Alcohol slows judgment and coordination, so an impaired driver often wanders across lanes, stops abruptly, or creeps along well below the speed of other traffic. If you see this, keep your distance, do not try to pass or confront the driver, and report the vehicle to the police.
South Dakota gives you 30 days from the date of a move to send the DMV your new address, which keeps your records and any mailed notices accurate.
The required minimum for bodily injury liability is $25,000 when a single person is hurt in a crash you cause. You may buy higher limits, but a $15,000 policy would fall short of the minimum.
Every question in this set has its own page with the correct answer and an explanation.
