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Customs and Excise Act 2018

Final and miscellaneous provisions - Offences - Infringement offences

399: Infringement offences and fees

You could also call this:

"Breaking customs rules can cost you up to $1,000 in fines"

Illustration for Customs and Excise Act 2018

If you break a rule under the Customs and Excise Act 2018, you might get an infringement notice. The government can decide which rules are infringement offences and how much you have to pay if you break them. You might have to pay up to $1,000.

If you are alleged to have committed an infringement offence, you can either be taken to court or be given an infringement notice. You can be taken to court by filing a charging document under section 14 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011. You can also be given an infringement notice, which is explained in sections 400 and 401 of this Act.

If you are taken to court, the court does not need special permission from a District Court Judge or Registrar under section 21(1)(a) of the Summary Proceedings Act 1957.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM7039877.

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Crime and justice > Criminal lawMoney and consumer rights > Fines and penaltiesGovernment and voting > Government departmentsBusiness > Industry rules
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"Getting a fine for breaking customs rules: what happens when you get an infringement notice"

Part 6Final and miscellaneous provisions
Offences: Infringement offences

399Infringement offences and fees

  1. Regulations may do any of the following:

  2. prescribe offences under this Act that are infringement offences:
    1. prescribe, in relation to an infringement offence, the infringement fee that is payable for the infringement offence.

      1. An infringement fee may not exceed $1,000.

      2. A person who is alleged to have committed an infringement offence may either—

      3. be proceeded against by the filing of a charging document under section 14 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011; or
        1. be served with an infringement notice (see sections 400 and 401).

          1. Proceedings commenced in the way described in subsection (3)(a) do not require the leave of a District Court Judge or Registrar under section 21(1)(a) of the Summary Proceedings Act 1957.