Refusal to submit to an alcohol test or to furnish test results

If you refuse to take an alcohol test when requested by law enforcement under § 91.17(c), or refuse to provide or authorize release of test results to the FAA, you face serious consequences for your remote pilot certificate.

The FAA can deny your application for a Part 107 remote pilot certificate for up to one year from the date of your refusal. If you already hold a remote pilot certificate, the FAA can suspend or revoke it.

This regulation essentially means that refusing an alcohol test has the same serious consequences as failing one. Law enforcement can request these tests when they have reasonable grounds to believe you've violated alcohol rules while operating a drone. The FAA treats refusal as grounds for certificate action because it prevents them from determining whether you were operating unsafely under the influence of alcohol.

*This is a plain-English summary for study only. The official 14 CFR text on this page is controlling — always read the current regulation and consult a CFI.*