Reprint as at 1 January 2009
Changes authorised by section 17C of the Acts and Regulations Publication Act 1989 have been made in this eprint.
A general outline of these changes is set out in the notes at the end of this eprint, together with other explanatory material about this eprint.
This Act is administered in the Ministry of Transport.
Title
1 Short Title and commencement
Part 1Preliminary provisions
2 Interpretation
3 Act to bind the Crown
Part 2Primary responsibilities of participants in land transport system
General responsibilities
4 General requirements for participants in land transport system
5 Drivers to be licensed
6 Vehicles to be safe and operated in compliance with rules
7 Drivers not to be reckless or dangerous
8 Drivers not to be careless or inconsiderate
9 Loads transported by vehicles to be secured
Responsibilities of road users under ordinary and emergency rules
10 Road users and others to comply with ordinary rules and emergency rules
Responsibilities concerning use of alcohol or drugs
11 Drivers not to exceed specified alcohol limits
12 Persons not to drive while under influence of alcohol or drugs
Responsibilities of drivers and other road users concerning enforcement officers
13 Drivers and other road users to comply with directions of enforcement officers, etc
Part 3Additional responsibilities concerning road transport
14 False or misleading information not to be given
15 Persons not to impersonate enforcement officers
16 Heavy motor vehicles not to be overloaded
17 Distance recorders not to be altered
18 Doctors and optometrists to give Agency medical reports of persons unfit to drive
19 Licences of certain persons subject to Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992 to be suspended
20 Traffic surveys not to be conducted unless approved by Agency
21 Enforcement officers to ameliorate hazards
22 Driver's duties where accident occurs
22A Persons not to engage in unauthorised street or drag racing, or other related prohibited activities on roads
Traction engine safety
22B Operators of traction engines to hold appropriate current qualification
22C Traction engine to be safe and operated in compliance with regulations and rules
Part 4Driver licensing
23 Issue of driver licences
24 Agency may issue temporary driver licences
25 Minimum age for driver licensing
26 Drivers may be tested and examined
27 Suspension and revocation of licences
28 Photographic driver licence
28A Transitional provisions for photographic driver licences
29 Certain driver licences have no effect
29A Persons convicted of specified serious offences prohibited from holding passenger endorsement
29B Passenger endorsement may be reinstated in certain cases
30 Driver licences are property of Agency and are to be surrendered in certain circumstances
Part 4ATransport services licensing
Subpart 1—Primary responsibilities of holders of transport service licences
30A Requirements for vehicles
30B Provision of identification information in Braille
Subpart 2—Fit and proper person test
Assessment criteria
30C General safety criteria
30D Additional criteria for small passenger service vehicles and vehicle recovery service
30E Additional criteria for large passenger service vehicles
30F Additional criteria for goods service
Information requirements
30G Agency may require information for fit and proper person assessment
30H Agency’s duties concerning prejudicial information
30I Non-disclosure by Agency of information for safety reasons
Subpart 3—Licensing of transport services
30J Transport service operators may not carry on certain transport services unless licensed to do so
30K Application for transport service licence
30L Grant of licence
30M Conditions of transport service licences
30N Transfer, assignment, or lease of transport service licence prohibited
30O Term of transport service licence
30P Agency may grant applications for approved taxi organisations
30Q Circumstances in which Agency must grant applications for approved taxi organisations
30R Agency may revoke approval
Subpart 4—Revocation of transport service licences
30S When Agency may revoke transport service licence
30T Procedure Agency must follow before revoking transport service licence
30U Suspension of transport service licence
Subpart 5—Adverse decisions
30V Interpretation
30W Agency to notify proposal to make adverse decision
30X Procedure for consideration of information
30Y Agency’s determination
Part 4BWork time and logbooks
30Z Application of Part
30ZA Agency may grant exemptions or approve alternative fatigue management schemes
Subpart 1—Work time
30ZB Application of subpart
30ZC Limits on work time
30ZD Records must be kept
Subpart 2—Logbooks
30ZE Application of subpart
30ZF Drivers must maintain logbooks
30ZG Agency may approve or revoke alternative means of recording matters
30ZH Duties regarding logbooks
Subpart 3—Evidence in proceedings
30ZI Evidence in proceedings for offences against subpart 1 or subpart 2
Part 5Offences relating to driving (other than alcohol-related offences) and penalties
Offences relating to driver licensing
31 Contravention of sections 5(1)(a), 5(1)(b), 5(4), 30(2), 30(3), or 30(4A)
32 Contravention of section 5(1)(c)
33 Contravention of section 5(2) or (3)
33A Offence to operate as driving instructor without authorisation
Offences relating to driving (other than offences involving alcohol)
34 Contravention of section 6
35 Contravention of section 7, or section 22 where no injury or death involved
36 Contravention of section 7 or section 22 involving injury or death
36A Contravention of section 22A
36B Contravention of section 22B or section 22C
37 Contravention of section 8
38 Contravention of section 8 causing injury or death
39 Aggravated careless use of vehicle causing injury or death
Offences relating to rules
40 Contravention of ordinary rules
41 Contravention of emergency rules
Loading offences
42 Failure to secure load
43 Overloading offences
43A Courts may impose appropriate fines for infringement offences that are not overloading offences
Other offences
44 Contravention of section 14
45 Contravention of section 17
46 Contravention of section 20
47 Contravention of section 22(2), (3), (4), or (5)
48 Contravention of section 92 (4)
49 Contravention of section 97(5) or (6)
50 Contravention of section 117(2)
51 Contravention of section 198(4)
52 Contravening notices, requirements, etc, given or imposed by enforcement officers
53 Obstruction of enforcement officer or dangerous goods enforcement officer
54 Personation of enforcement officer
55 Tampering with vehicle surveillance equipment
Part 6Driving offences involving drink or drugs, and penalties and procedures
Offences and penalties
56 Contravention of specified breath or blood-alcohol limit
57 Contravention of specified breath or blood-alcohol limit by person younger than 20
58 Contravention of section 12
59 Failure or refusal to remain at specified place or to accompany enforcement officer
60 Failure or refusal to permit blood specimen to be taken
61 Person in charge of motor vehicle causing injury or death
62 Causing injury or death in circumstances to which section 61 does not apply
63 Further penalty in certain cases where person driving vehicle used in transport service
Defences
64 Defences
Repeat offences
65 Mandatory penalties for repeat offences involving use of alcohol or drugs
Name suppression
66 Names of drivers convicted of alcohol or drug-related offences may not be suppressed
Blood test fee
67 Blood test fee
Enforcement procedures for offences involving intoxication
68 Who must undergo breath screening test
69 Who must undergo evidential breath test
70 Person may be required to undergo further evidential breath test if initial test fails to produce result
70A Right to elect blood test
71 Meaning of apparently younger than 20
72 Who must give blood specimen at places other than hospital or surgery
73 Who must give blood specimen in hospital or surgery
74 Procedure for dealing with blood specimens
Evidential provisions
75 Certificates in blood-alcohol proceedings
75A Certificates of compliance for evidential breath-testing devices
76 Presumptions relating to blood specimens
77 Presumptions relating to alcohol-testing
78 Presumptions as to age of driver
79 Circumstances in which certificate not admissible in proceedings
Part 6AOffences relating to transport services and penalties
79A Offence to carry on transport service without licence
79B Provision of incorrect information
79C Failure to present vehicle for inspection
79D Contravention of section 30K
79E Liability of persons who use unlicensed transport service
79F Contravention of section 30M
79G Contravention of section 87G
79H Contravention of section 128A
79I Contravention of section 128B
79J Liability of employers and principal
79K Liability of directors of bodies corporate
79L Court may require convicted transport service licence holder to sit examination
79M Penalties for failure to pay passenger service fares
Part 6BOffences relating to work time and logbooks
79N Failure to keep or produce records or comply with conditions of exemption or approval
79O Failure to comply with prescribed work time restrictions or rest time requirements
79P Defences to work time offences
79Q Failure to discharge duties regarding logbooks
79R Offences and proceedings concerning logbooks
79S Defences to logbook offences
Part 6COffences relating to chain of responsibility
79T Offence to cause or require driver to breach speed limits, maximum work time, or rest time requirements
79U Offence to cause or require driver to breach maximum gross weight limits
Part 7Disqualification, demerit points, licence suspension, and vehicle impoundment
Disqualification
80 General penalty of disqualification may be imposed if offence involves road safety
81 Provisions relating to mandatory disqualification
82 Effect of disqualification
83 Holder to undergo approved tests or courses if disqualified for more than 1 year
84 New licence or endorsement to be issued if disqualified driver qualifies for specified vehicle classes
85 When disqualification starts
86 Term of disqualification if person already disqualified
87 Particulars of court orders relating to disqualification to be sent to Agency and offender
Disqualification of transport service driver and other persons
87A Disqualification of transport service driver
87B Disqualification of holder of transport service licence from holding transport service licence
87C Procedure for disqualifying person under section 87A or section 87B
Suspension of transport service driver and other persons
87D Immediate suspension of transport service driver and other persons in interests of public safety
87E Procedure for suspending a person under section 87D
87F Term of suspension
Effect of disqualification or suspension of transport service driver and other persons
87G Effect of disqualification or suspension of transport service driver and other persons
Demerit points system
88 Demerit points to be recorded by Agency
89 Notice of demerit points
90 Suspension of licence or disqualification from driving under demerit points system
91 Cancellation and reinstatement of demerit points
Other penalties
92 Compulsory attendance at driving improvement course or dangerous goods course
93 Court may order compulsory driving test
94 Substitution of community-based sentences
Mandatory suspension of driver licence
95 Mandatory 28-day suspension of driver licence in certain circumstances
Impoundment of vehicles
96 Vehicle seized and impounded for 28 days in certain circumstances
96A Impoundment of vehicle used in transport service
97 Storage of impounded vehicles
98 Release of vehicle after 28 days
Part 8Mitigation of penalties and rights of appeal
Removal of disqualifications
99 Court may reduce disqualification
99A Agency may approve programmes
100 Agency to remove certain disqualifications
Removal of licence suspension and return of impounded vehicles
101 Appeal to Agency against mandatory suspension of driver licence
102 Appeal to Police against impoundment of vehicle
Grant of limited licence
103 Persons who may apply to court for limited licence
104 Issue of limited licence to be delayed or prohibited in certain cases
105 Court may make order authorising grant of limited licence
Rights of appeal
106 General right of appeal to District Court
107 Appeals against court orders relating to disqualification or grant of limited licence, and deferral of disqualification
108 Appeal against Agency’s refusal to remove disqualification
109 Appeal against refusal of Agency to remove suspension of driver licence
110 Appeal against refusal of Police to direct release of impounded vehicle
111 Procedure
111A Appeal to High Court on question of law
111B Further appeal to Court of Appeal
Demerit points
112 Effect of appeal on demerit points
Part 9Enforcement of responsibilities
General enforcement powers
113 Enforcement officers may enforce transport legislation
113A Power to inspect records
114 Power to require driver to stop and give name and address, etc
115 Enforcement officers may give directions prohibiting driving of vehicles
116 Enforcement of directions
117 Moved vehicle not to be damaged and to be returned to person entitled to possession
118 Owner or hirer or licence holder to give information as to identity of driver or passenger
Powers of entry, arrest, immobilisation, and impoundment
119 Powers of entry
120 Arrest of persons for alcohol or drug-related offences, or assault on enforcement officer
121 Enforcement officer may immobilise vehicle, etc, if driver incapable of proper control of vehicle
122 Enforcement officer may seize and impound vehicle for up to 12 hours in emergency
123 Enforcement officer may seize and impound vehicle for up to 7 days where serious accident or hit and run offence or for failure to stop
Enforcement powers for offences involving certain vehicles
124 Inspection of vehicles required to have evidence of vehicle inspection and certificate of loading
125 Stopping, inspection, and weighing of heavy vehicles and certain transport service vehicles
126 Off-loading of overweight vehicle
127 Protection against claims resulting from action under section 125 or section 126
128 Enforcement officer to order heavy vehicle to stop until load secured
128A Enforcement officer's powers in respect of non-complying small passenger service vehicles
128B Enforcement officer's powers in respect of non-complying vehicle recovery service vehicles
Dangerous goods
129 Vehicles may be inspected and directed to remain stopped for contravening dangerous goods rules
130 Power to inspect railway lines
131 Power to inspect premises used for loading and unloading of dangerous goods
132 Inspection powers concerning dangerous goods
Part 10Proceedings enforcing responsibilities
133 Owner liability for moving vehicle offences
134 Strict liability for offences involving insecure loads and loads falling from vehicles
Commencement of proceedings
135 Offences punishable summarily
136 Time for instituting proceedings
Certain matters not defences
137 Compliance with speed limit and certain other matters not to be defences
Infringement offences
138 Infringement offences
139 Issue of infringement notice
140 Reminder notices
141 Provisions relating to infringement fees
Evidence
142 Evidence of driver history relating to infringement fees
143 Evidence of driver licence
144 Evidence in certain proceedings
145 Evidence of approved vehicle surveillance equipment
145A Evidence and proof
146 Evidence of testing and accuracy of speed-measuring devices, etc
147 Evidence of accuracy of weighing devices and sites
148 Presumptions relating to axle weights and dangerous goods
149 Admissibility of certain statements by drivers of certain vehicles
150 Evidence of certain documents
151 Evidence of rules
Part 11Land transport subordinate legislation
152 Power of Minister to make ordinary rules
153 Rules concerning road user behaviour
154 Rules concerning driver licensing
155 Rules concerning vehicles
156 Rules concerning dangerous goods
157 Rules concerning roads
158 Rules concerning licensing, standard-setting, etc
159 Rules concerning land transport documents
160 Other provisions concerning ordinary rules
161 Procedure concerning ordinary rules
Emergency rules
162 Agency may make emergency rules
163 Procedure for making emergency rules
General provisions concerning making of rules
164 Matters to be taken into account in making rules
165 Incorporation by reference
166 Agency may grant exemptions
Regulations
167 Regulations
168 Regulations relating to fees and charges for land transport
168A Agency may declare that vehicle is mobility device or is not motor vehicle
168B Order in Council for certain land transport revenue
Part 12The Crown and land transport
169 Objectives of Minister
169A Functions of Minister
Part 13Land transport strategies
[Repealed]
National land transport strategy
170 National land transport strategy [Repealed]
171 Procedure for completing national land transport strategy [Repealed]
172 Currency of national land transport strategy [Repealed]
173 Amendment or revocation of national land transport strategy [Repealed]
174 Effect of national land transport strategy [Repealed]
Regional land transport strategies
175 Regional land transport strategies [Repealed]
176 Currency of regional land transport strategies [Repealed]
177 Copies of regional land transport strategy to be made available to certain persons [Repealed]
178 Regional land transport committees [Repealed]
179 Consultation requirements for preparation of regional land transport strategies [Repealed]
180 Regional councils to consider contracting out functions under this Act [Repealed]
181 Effect of regional land transport strategies [Repealed]
182 Annual reports on regional land transport strategy [Repealed]
183 Certain territorial authorities to prepare land transport strategy [Repealed]
Part 14Administrative provisions
184 Land Transport Safety Authority of New Zealand continued [Repealed]
185 Authority to be Crown entity [Repealed]
186 Director of Land Transport [Repealed]
187 Acting Director [Repealed]
188 Use of words Land Transport Safety Authority [Repealed]
Role of Land Transport Safety Authority and Director
189 Principal objective of Authority [Repealed]
190 Functions of Authority [Repealed]
191 Authority to comply with policy directions [Repealed]
192 Performance agreement [Repealed]
193 Minister may determine content of agreement or amendment [Repealed]
194 Amendment of agreement [Repealed]
195 Service charter [Repealed]
Powers and additional functions of Authority and Director
196 Authority to have powers of natural person [Repealed]
197 Functions and powers of Director [Repealed]
198 Inspections and audits
199 Agency to maintain register of driver licences
199A Register of transport service licences
200 Restrictions on access to photographic images of driver licence holders
Use of outside agencies in performance of functions
201 Authority to consider delegating or contracting out of functions and powers [Repealed]
202 Authority may arrange for services to be provided by outside agencies [Repealed]
Delegations
203 Authority may delegate functions or powers to employees [Repealed]
204 Director may delegate functions or powers to employees of Authority [Repealed]
205 Director may delegate functions or powers to persons outside Authority [Repealed]
206 General provisions concerning delegations under sections 204 and 205 [Repealed]
207 Delegation of Minister's functions or powers to Agency
Part 15Miscellaneous provisions
208 Appointment of enforcement officers and dangerous goods enforcement officers
209 Taking of blood specimens for statistical or research purposes
210 Service of notices
211 Commissioner to provide traffic accident reports
211A Payment of fees
212 Agency to pay sum to Assessment Centres
213 Customs control over imported vehicles
213A Public right of way at level crossings
Part 16Repeals, amendments to other enactments, and transitional and savings provisions
214 Repeals
215 Amendments to other enactments
216 Transitional regulations
217 Expiry of section 216
218 Regulations and other enactments having effect under this Act
219 Expiry of section 218
220 Rules having effect under this Act
221 Appointments
222 Saving of certain land transport documents
223 Transfer provisions for certain employees of Land Transport Safety Agency
224 Saving of certain notices issued by enforcement officers
225 Savings relating to court orders, proceedings, etc
226 Saving of notices suspending driver licences
227 Saving of demerit points
228 Saving of certain applications under Transport Act 1962
229 Savings relating to rules and land transport strategies
230 Savings relating to functions of Agency
231 Savings relating to blood specimens taken under Transport Act 1962
232 Savings relating to blood specimens taken under this Act and posted in accordance with Transport Act 1962
Schedule 1Provisions concerning Land Transport Safety Authority of New Zealand
Schedule 2Enactments repealed
Schedule 3Enactments amended
Schedule 4New Parts 1, 2, 5, 7, 8, 9, and 10 substituted in Schedule 2 of Transport Act 1962
Land Transport Amendment Act 2005
Land Transport Management Amendment Act 2008
Public Transport Management Act 2008
Reprint notes
An Act—
(a) To promote safe road user behaviour and vehicle safety; and
(b) To provide for a system of rules governing road user behaviour, the licensing of drivers, and technical aspects of land transport, and to recognise reciprocal obligations of persons involved; and
(c) To consolidate and amend various enactments relating to road safety and land transport; and
(d) To enable New Zealand to implement international agreements relating to road safety and land transport
BE IT ENACTED by the Parliament of New Zealand as follows: