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Customs and Excise Act 2018

Final and miscellaneous provisions - Offences - Offences in relation to Customs

380: Personation of Customs officer

You could also call this:

"Pretending to be a Customs officer when you're not is against the law"

Illustration for Customs and Excise Act 2018

If you pretend to be a Customs officer without a good reason, you can get in trouble. This can happen if you say something, do something, or act in a way that makes people think you are a Customs officer. You are not allowed to wear or use a Customs officer's uniform, name, or title if you are not really a Customs officer, unless you have a good reason.

If you say a boat, car, or other vehicle is working for Customs when it is not, you can also get in trouble. This is because you are not supposed to pretend that something is connected to Customs if it is not. You need to be honest about who you are and what you are doing.

If you break these rules, you might have to go to prison for up to 12 months or pay a fine of up to $15,000. You can find more information about this law by looking at the Customs and Excise Act 2018 and similar laws, such as s 178 from 1996.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM7039846.

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Part 6Final and miscellaneous provisions
Offences: Offences in relation to Customs

380Personation of Customs officer

  1. A person commits an offence if, without reasonable excuse, the person by words, conduct, or demeanour pretends to be a Customs officer.

  2. A person commits an offence if the person—

  3. is not a Customs officer (or an authorised officer); but
    1. without reasonable excuse, wears or uses the uniform, name, designation, or description of a Customs officer.

      1. A person commits an offence if the person, without lawful authority, represents any craft, vehicle, or other conveyance as being in the service of Customs.

      2. A person who commits an offence under this section is liable on conviction to—

      3. imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months; or
        1. a fine not exceeding $15,000.

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