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Search and Surveillance Act 2012

Police powers - Warrantless powers to enter and search when effecting arrest - Stopping vehicle without warrant to effect arrest

9: Stopping vehicle to find persons unlawfully at large or who have committed certain offences

You could also call this:

"Police can stop a car to catch someone who has broken the law or is hiding from them."

A constable can stop a vehicle without a warrant to arrest someone if they think a person is in the vehicle. You might be in the vehicle if the constable suspects you are unlawfully at large. The constable can also stop the vehicle if they suspect you have committed a crime that could result in imprisonment.

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This page was last updated on

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM2136640.

Topics:
Crime and justice > Police and safety
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8: Entry without warrant to avoid loss of offender or evidential material, or

"Police can enter a place without permission if they think a suspect will escape or hide evidence."

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10: Powers and duties of constable after vehicle stopped, or

"What police can do after stopping a vehicle to arrest someone"

Part 2Police powers
Warrantless powers to enter and search when effecting arrest: Stopping vehicle without warrant to effect arrest

9Stopping vehicle to find persons unlawfully at large or who have committed certain offences

  1. A constable may stop a vehicle without a warrant to arrest a person if the constable has reasonable grounds—

  2. to suspect that a person—
    1. is unlawfully at large; or
      1. has committed an offence punishable by imprisonment; and
      2. to believe that the person is in or on the vehicle.