Search and Surveillance Act 2012

Amendments, repeals, and miscellaneous provisions - Amendments to search and seizure powers in other enactments (and to related provisions) used for law enforcement purposes or for law enforcement and regulatory purposes - Amendments to Customs and Excise Act 1996

222: Searching vehicles

You could also call this:

"What happens when a customs officer searches your vehicle"

When you are stopped by a customs officer, they can search your vehicle. The officer must follow certain rules, which are outlined in the Search and Surveillance Act 2012, except for some specific parts. You can find these rules in Part 4 of the Search and Surveillance Act 2012.

If some goods are taken from you and given to the government, some of these rules do not apply. This happens when goods are forfeited to the Crown under section 225 of the Customs and Excise Act 1996. Specific rules that do not apply include sections 125(4), 131(5)(f), and 133, and subparts 6 and 8 of Part 4 of the Search and Surveillance Act 2012.

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This page was last updated on 24 May 2025

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM2136948.

Topics:

Crime and justice > Police and safetyImmigration and citizenship > Border control

221: Amendments to sections 139 to 141 of Customs and Excise Act 1996, or

"Changes to the Customs and Excise Act 1996 to make some rules clearer and easier to follow"

223: Amendments to sections 149A to 149D of Customs and Excise Act 1996, or

"Changes to customs rules in sections 149A to 149D of the Customs and Excise Act 1996"

Part 5Amendments, repeals, and miscellaneous provisions
Amendments to search and seizure powers in other enactments (and to related provisions) used for law enforcement purposes or for law enforcement and regulatory purposes: Amendments to Customs and Excise Act 1996

222Searching vehicles

Section 144 is amended by adding the following subsections:

The provisions of Part 4 of the Search and Surveillance Act 2012 (except subparts 2 and 3) apply in respect of a search undertaken under this section.

Despite subsection (5), sections 125(4), 131(5)(f), and 133, and subparts 6 and 8 of Part 4 of the Search and Surveillance Act 2012 do not apply to any goods forfeited to the Crown under section 225 of this Act.