Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Land Transport Act 1998

Enforcement of responsibilities - General enforcement powers

117: Moved vehicle not to be damaged and to be returned to person entitled to possession

You could also call this:

“Vehicles moved by officials must be kept safe and returned to their owners”

If someone is allowed by an enforcement officer to enter, move, or impound a vehicle, they must be careful not to damage the vehicle or any personal items inside it. They should do everything they can to keep everything safe.

If you have a vehicle that was moved because it was causing a traffic problem, you must give it back to the person who owned it before. This person needs to ask for the vehicle at a reasonable time and show proof that they were the rightful owner. When they do this, you need to return the vehicle to them right away.

These rules help make sure that vehicles are handled carefully and returned to their proper owners when they are moved for safety reasons.

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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=DLM435111.

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Part 9 Enforcement of responsibilities
General enforcement powers

117Moved vehicle not to be damaged and to be returned to person entitled to possession

  1. A person who is authorised by an enforcement officer to—

  2. enter a vehicle for the purpose of moving it or preparing it for movement; or
    1. move a vehicle to a place where it does not constitute a traffic hazard; or
      1. impound a vehicle—
          1. may do so, but must do everything reasonably necessary to ensure that the vehicle and personal property in or on the vehicle are not damaged.

        1. A person who—

        2. has possession of a vehicle as a result of its being moved under section 113(2)(c); and
          1. when requested at a reasonable time to do so by a person who produces satisfactory evidence to the effect that he or she was lawfully entitled to possession of the vehicle immediately before it was moved,—
              1. must release the vehicle to that person immediately.

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