Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Land Transport Act 1998

Disqualification, demerit points, licence suspension, and vehicle impoundment - Disqualification

85: When disqualification starts

You could also call this:

“When your driving ban begins”

If a court orders that you can’t have or get a driver licence, this usually starts on the day the court makes the order. But sometimes, the court or the law might say it starts at a different time.

If you drive on the same day the court makes this order, but before the order is made, you haven’t broken the law about driving while disqualified.

If you’re already not allowed to have a driver licence when the court makes a new order, the new order will start when your current disqualification ends.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM434895.

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84: New licence to be issued if disqualified driver qualifies for specified vehicle classes, or

"You can get a new licence for some vehicles if you were banned from driving"

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86: Term of disqualification if person already disqualified, or

"Extra driving ban for offences while already banned"

Part 7 Disqualification, demerit points, licence suspension, and vehicle impoundment
Disqualification

85When disqualification starts

  1. If an order is made by a court under any Act disqualifying a person from holding or obtaining a driver licence, the period of disqualification starts on the day the order is made unless the court otherwise directs or that Act otherwise provides.

  2. The person disqualified does not commit the offence of driving while disqualified contrary to section 32(1)(a) merely because, on the day of the making of the order, he or she drove a motor vehicle on a road on that day before the making of the order.

  3. In the case of a person who is at the time of the order already disqualified from holding or obtaining a driver licence, the period of disqualification ordered starts when the order or the last of the orders to which the person is already subject ceases to have effect.

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