Land Transport (Drug Driving) Amendment Bill
This bill changes how police test drivers for drugs. Instead of a roadside saliva test result being enough on its own, the saliva collected at the roadside will now be sent to a lab for proper scientific analysis before a driver can be fined. Drivers will also have the right to get their sample tested by their own private analyst. New fines apply if someone refuses to do the test or provide a saliva sample. A review of how the new system is working must happen within five years.
What this affects
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Drivers can now only be fined for drug driving if a lab test — not just a roadside saliva swab — confirms drugs above a set level in their system
A person who drives or attempts to drive a motor vehicle on a road commits an infringement offence if analysis carried out by an approved analyst indicates that the person's oral fluid sample is positive for 1 listed qualifying drug.
A person commits an infringement offence if the person fails or refuses to undergo an oral fluid screening test without delay after having been required to do so under any of sections 71A to 71C by an enforcement officer.
Failing or refusing to undergo oral fluid screening test without delay [infringement fee] 1000
Progress through Parliament
Have your say
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Write to your MPBill text sourced from legislation.govt.nz (Parliamentary Counsel Office). Arapono’s summary and breakdown are drafted with AI grounded in that official text and reviewed by an Arapono editor for accuracy and neutrality before publishing. Arapono is non-partisan and takes no position on this bill.