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Land Transport Act 1998

Driving offences involving drink or drugs, and penalties and procedures - Offences, defences, penalties, and blood test fee - Offences and penalties

57B: Driving offence: 2 or more qualifying drugs

You could also call this:

"Driving with 2 or more drugs in your blood is against the law"

Illustration for Land Transport Act 1998

You commit an offence if you drive a vehicle with 2 or more qualifying drugs in your blood. This happens if your blood test shows a high level of these drugs under section 72 or 73. You also commit an offence if you fail a compulsory impairment test under section 71F. You commit an infringement offence if you drive with 2 or more qualifying drugs in your blood, but at a lower level. This can happen if your blood test shows a lower level of these drugs under section 72 or 73. You also commit an infringement offence if you were not required to do a compulsory impairment test under section 71F. You commit an infringement offence if your oral fluid sample is positive for 2 or more listed qualifying drugs. This is decided by an approved analyst. You must follow the rules to stay safe on the road.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS822214.

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Topics:
Transport and travel > DrivingCrime and justice > Police and safety
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57A: Driving offence: 1 qualifying drug, or

"Driving with drugs in your blood is against the law"

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57C: Driving offence: alcohol and 1 qualifying drug, or

"Driving with alcohol or certain drugs in your system is against the law"

Part 6Driving offences involving drink or drugs, and penalties and procedures
Offences, defences, penalties, and blood test fee: Offences and penalties

57BDriving offence: 2 or more qualifying drugs

  1. A person who drives or attempts to drive a motor vehicle on a road commits an offence if, as ascertained from an analysis of a blood specimen subsequently taken from the person under section 72 or 73, the person’s blood contains evidence of use of 2 or more qualifying drugs and either or both of the following apply:

  2. 1 or more of the drugs are listed qualifying drugs and the blood concentration level for 1 or more listed qualifying drugs exceeds the applicable high-risk level:
    1. 1 or more of the drugs are unlisted qualifying drugs and the blood specimen was taken after the person failed to complete a compulsory impairment test in a manner satisfactory to an enforcement officer who is trained to give the test when the person was required to do so under section 71F.

      1. A person who drives or attempts to drive a motor vehicle on a road commits an infringement offence if, as ascertained from an analysis of a blood specimen subsequently taken from the person under section 72 or 73, the person’s blood—

      2. contains evidence of use of 2 or more listed qualifying drugs and the blood concentration level of each listed qualifying drug equals or is less than the high-risk level for the drug; or
        1. contains evidence of use of 2 or more unlisted qualifying drugs and the person was not required to undergo a compulsory impairment test under section 71F before the blood specimen was taken; or
          1. contains evidence of use of 1 or more listed qualifying drugs and 1 or more unlisted qualifying drugs and—
            1. the blood concentration level of each listed qualifying drug equals or is less than the high-risk level for the drug; and
              1. the person was not required to undergo a compulsory impairment test under section 71F before the blood specimen was taken.

              2. A person who drives or attempts to drive a motor vehicle on a road commits an infringement offence if analysis carried out by an approved analyst indicates that the person’s oral fluid sample is positive for 2 or more listed qualifying drugs.

              Notes
              • Section 57B: inserted, on , by section 10 of the Land Transport (Drug Driving) Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 5).
              • Section 57B heading: replaced, on , by section 9(1) of the Land Transport (Drug Driving) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 12).
              • Section 57B(3) heading: replaced, on , by section 9(2) of the Land Transport (Drug Driving) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 12).
              • Section 57B(3): replaced, on , by section 9(2) of the Land Transport (Drug Driving) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 12).