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New Zealand law explained for everyone

Land Transport Act 1998

Disqualification, demerit points, licence suspension, and vehicle impoundment - Driver licence stop orders

91F: Effect of driver licence stop order

You could also call this:

“What happens when you're not allowed to use your driver licence”

When you get a driver licence stop order, it starts working right away if someone gives it to you in person. If they send it to you another way, it starts when you send or give your driver licence to someone who works for the Ministry of Justice.

Once the order starts, it keeps going until it’s cancelled or stopped by the rules in section 91G or 91H.

While the order is active, you can’t use your driver licence. This includes any special limited licence you might have. If you don’t have a licence when the order starts, you’re not allowed to get one. You also can’t get a new licence or a limited licence while the order is active.

The person in charge at the Ministry of Justice has to tell the Director about the order and when it started. They might also tell the Commissioner.

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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=DLM5706326.

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91E: Imposition of driver licence stop order, or

"Stopping your driver's licence if you don't pay your traffic fines"

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91G: Cancellation of driver licence stop order, or

"How to undo a rule that stops someone from driving"

Part 7 Disqualification, demerit points, licence suspension, and vehicle impoundment
Driver licence stop orders

91FEffect of driver licence stop order

  1. A driver licence stop order that is imposed on a defendant takes effect—

  2. if the order is served personally on the defendant, immediately after the order is so served:
    1. if the order is served, but is not served personally, on the defendant and the defendant posts or delivers the driver licence to an employee or agent of the Ministry of Justice, immediately after that employee or agent receives the defendant's driver licence.

      1. A driver licence stop order that is in effect continues in effect until it is cancelled under section 91G or terminated under section 91H.

      2. Throughout the time that a driver licence stop order is in effect,—

      3. any driver licence held by the defendant on whom the order is imposed, including any limited licence held under section 105, is suspended; and
        1. if the defendant on whom the order is imposed does not hold a current driver licence when the order takes effect, the defendant is disqualified from holding or obtaining a driver licence, including any limited licence under section 105; and
          1. if the defendant's driver licence is suspended under paragraph (a), the defendant may not hold or obtain another driver licence, including any limited licence under section 105.

            1. The chief executive of the Ministry of Justice must notify the Director and may notify the Commissioner of the driver licence stop order and of the date and time when it took effect.

            Notes
            • Section 91F: inserted, on , by section 7 of the Land Transport Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 31).
            • Section 91F(4): amended, on , by section 84 of the Land Transport (NZTA) Legislation Amendment Act 2020 (2020 No 48).