Land Transport Act 1998
Summary of changes
These summaries explain recent changes to the law. They are generated by AI comparing versions of the legislation, so they might oversimplify, miss details, or get things wrong. Learn more about how we track these changes.


1 January 2026
- Provisions related to driving under the influence of drugs have been updated to include oral fluid screening tests and specify concentration levels of qualifying drugs
- The terminology 'oral fluid test' has been replaced with 'oral fluid screening test' in various provisions to maintain consistency
- Procedures for oral fluid screening tests have been amended, including the process for positive tests and the requirement for further testing
- The Minister of Police's approval authority for oral fluid screening devices has been revised
- Presumptions relating to drug testing have been updated, including the presumption for oral fluid testing in infringement offence proceedings
- Mandatory prohibition from driving for a 12-hour period has been updated to include failure or refusal of an oral fluid screening test
- Provisions related to the appointment and powers of enforcement officers and parking wardens have been amended
- References to airport authorities have been updated to airport operators in various provisions
- Provisions related to infringement notices and fees have been amended
- The clean vehicle standard and related regulations have been amended, including targets for reducing carbon dioxide emissions
- Transitional, savings, and related provisions have been amended, including the review of amendments made by the Land Transport (Drug Driving) Amendment Act 2025
Affected provisions
- 1: Transitional, savings, and related provisionsTransitional, savings, and related provisions have been amended, including the review of amendments made by the Land Transport (Drug Driving) Amendment Act 2025
- 2: InterpretationReferences to airport authorities have been updated to airport operators in various provisions
- 11A: Persons not to drive or attempt to drive while blood contains evidence of use of qualifying drug or concentration level of qualifying drug in oral fluid equals or exceeds specified concentration levelProvisions related to driving under the influence of drugs have been updated to include oral fluid screening tests and specify concentration levels of qualifying drugs
- 57A: Driving offence: 1 qualifying drugProvisions related to driving under the influence of drugs have been updated to include oral fluid screening tests and specify concentration levels of qualifying drugs
- 57B: Driving offence: 2 or more qualifying drugsProvisions related to driving under the influence of drugs have been updated to include oral fluid screening tests and specify concentration levels of qualifying drugs
- 57C: Driving offence: alcohol and 1 qualifying drugProvisions related to driving under the influence of drugs have been updated to include oral fluid screening tests and specify concentration levels of qualifying drugs
- 59: Failure or refusal to remain at specified place or to accompany enforcement officerProvisions related to the appointment and powers of enforcement officers and parking wardens have been amended
- 64: DefencesThe terminology 'oral fluid test' has been replaced with 'oral fluid screening test' in various provisions to maintain consistency
- 68: Who must undergo breath screening testThe terminology 'oral fluid test' has been replaced with 'oral fluid screening test' in various provisions to maintain consistency
- 71A: Who must undergo first oral fluid screening testThe terminology 'oral fluid test' has been replaced with 'oral fluid screening test' in various provisions to maintain consistency
- 71B: Who must undergo second oral fluid screening testThe terminology 'oral fluid test' has been replaced with 'oral fluid screening test' in various provisions to maintain consistency
- 71C: Person must undergo further oral fluid screening test if either first or second oral fluid screening test fails to produce resultThe terminology 'oral fluid test' has been replaced with 'oral fluid screening test' in various provisions to maintain consistency
- 71D: Process followed if first oral fluid screening test is positiveThe terminology 'oral fluid test' has been replaced with 'oral fluid screening test' in various provisions to maintain consistency; Procedures for oral fluid screening tests have been amended, including the process for positive tests and the requirement for further testing
- 71E: Person may be required to accompany enforcement officer to undergo blood testProcedures for oral fluid screening tests have been amended, including the process for positive tests and the requirement for further testing
- 71F: Who must undergo compulsory impairment testProcedures for oral fluid screening tests have been amended, including the process for positive tests and the requirement for further testing
- 71G: Minister may approve oral fluid screening devices for use in oral fluid screening testsProcedures for oral fluid screening tests have been amended, including the process for positive tests and the requirement for further testing; The Minister of Police's approval authority for oral fluid screening devices has been revised
- 77A: Presumptions relating to drug testingPresumptions relating to drug testing have been updated, including the presumption for oral fluid testing in infringement offence proceedings
- 94A: Mandatory prohibition from driving for 12-hour period if results of 2 oral fluid screening tests are positive or person fails or refuses oral fluid screening testMandatory prohibition from driving for a 12-hour period has been updated to include failure or refusal of an oral fluid screening test
- 121: Enforcement officer may immobilise vehicle, etc, in specified circumstancesProvisions related to the appointment and powers of enforcement officers and parking wardens have been amended
- 128D: Appointment of parking wardensProvisions related to the appointment and powers of enforcement officers and parking wardens have been amended
- 139: Issue of infringement noticeProvisions related to infringement notices and fees have been amended
- 141: Provisions relating to infringement feesReferences to airport authorities have been updated to airport operators in various provisions; Provisions related to infringement notices and fees have been amended
- 167: RegulationsProvisions related to the appointment and powers of enforcement officers and parking wardens have been amended; Provisions related to infringement notices and fees have been amended
- 167C: Regulations for purposes of Part 13 (clean vehicle standard)The clean vehicle standard and related regulations have been amended, including targets for reducing carbon dioxide emissions
- 175: Targets for reducing carbon dioxide emissionsThe clean vehicle standard and related regulations have been amended, including targets for reducing carbon dioxide emissions
- 177: Charges payable by category 1 light vehicle importer if carbon dioxide emissions targets exceededThe clean vehicle standard and related regulations have been amended, including targets for reducing carbon dioxide emissions
- 178: Category 1 light vehicle importer may bank overachievement of carbon dioxide emissions targetThe clean vehicle standard and related regulations have been amended, including targets for reducing carbon dioxide emissions
- 179: Category 1 light vehicle importer may defer obligationThe clean vehicle standard and related regulations have been amended, including targets for reducing carbon dioxide emissions
- 180: Category 1 light vehicle importer may transfer carbon dioxide creditsThe clean vehicle standard and related regulations have been amended, including targets for reducing carbon dioxide emissions
- 182: Charges payable by category 2 light vehicle importer if emissions targets exceededThe clean vehicle standard and related regulations have been amended, including targets for reducing carbon dioxide emissions
- 184: Category 2 light vehicle importer may transfer carbon dioxide creditsThe clean vehicle standard and related regulations have been amended, including targets for reducing carbon dioxide emissions
- 208: Appointment of enforcement officers and dangerous goods enforcement officersReferences to airport authorities have been updated to airport operators in various provisions
20 May 2025
- Repealed provisions related to airport authorities in bylaw consultation and infringement notice proceedings
- Updated definitions and provisions to replace 'airport authority' with 'airport operator' for enforcement and appointment purposes
- Removed airport authority references from provisions related to road controlling authority and infringement fees
- Introduced a new regulation-making power for stationary vehicle offences and parking warden infringement notice issuance
Affected provisions
- 2: InterpretationUpdated definitions and provisions to replace 'airport authority' with 'airport operator' for enforcement and appointment purposes
- 22AD: ConsultationRepealed provisions related to airport authorities in bylaw consultation and infringement notice proceedings
- 128D: Appointment of parking wardensUpdated definitions and provisions to replace 'airport authority' with 'airport operator' for enforcement and appointment purposes
- 139: Issue of infringement noticeRepealed provisions related to airport authorities in bylaw consultation and infringement notice proceedings
- 141: Provisions relating to infringement feesRemoved airport authority references from provisions related to road controlling authority and infringement fees
- 167: RegulationsIntroduced a new regulation-making power for stationary vehicle offences and parking warden infringement notice issuance
28 October 2025
- References to other Acts have been rephrased for clarity, with no change to substantive content
- Redundant formatting has been removed from references to other Acts
- Links to other provisions have been removed from citations
- Compare notes have been updated to include the year of the Act
- A section has been amended to repeal a subsection on a specific date, with minor formatting changes
Affected provisions
- 15: Persons not to impersonate enforcement officersRedundant formatting has been removed from references to other Acts
- 22AD: ConsultationReferences to other Acts have been rephrased for clarity, with no change to substantive content
- 79G: Contravention of section 87GCompare notes have been updated to include the year of the Act
- 79S: Defences to logbook offencesCompare notes have been updated to include the year of the Act
- 136: Time for instituting proceedingsReferences to other Acts have been rephrased for clarity, with no change to substantive content
- 208: Appointment of enforcement officers and dangerous goods enforcement officersA section has been amended to repeal a subsection on a specific date, with minor formatting changes
- 224A: Saving of certain directions given by parking wardensLinks to other provisions have been removed from citations
- 259: Contract to dispose of rights to personalised platesLinks to other provisions have been removed from citations; Compare notes have been updated to include the year of the Act
