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Civil Aviation Act 2023

Aviation security - Aviation security services and aviation security powers - Searching powers at aerodromes and navigation installations

141: Searching powers of aviation security officers

You could also call this:

"Aviation security officers can search you, your things, or places at airports to keep everyone safe."

Illustration for Civil Aviation Act 2023

At an airport or navigation installation, an aviation security officer can search you or your things to find anything that might be a problem. They can do this when you are entering or already in certain areas, like before you go through security or when you are in a special secure area. They can also search any place or thing within the airport or installation, including vehicles, aircraft, and unattended items.

When an aviation security officer searches an electronic device, they are not allowed to look at the data on the device or access any data that is not on the device. The officer can do a search on their own or because someone like the airport operator or the Police asked them to.

You can find more information about this by looking at the Civil Aviation Act 2023 and other related laws, such as the Aviation Security Service provisions, section 80A, section 80B, and section 80C.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS239585.

Topics:
Transport and travel > Air travelCrime and justice > Police and safety
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142: Requirements and incidental powers relating to manner of searching persons, or

"What to do when an aviation security officer searches you at an airport"

Part 5Aviation security
Aviation security services and aviation security powers: Searching powers at aerodromes and navigation installations

141Searching powers of aviation security officers

  1. An aviation security officer may, at a security designated aerodrome or a security designated navigation installation, for the purpose of detecting any relevant item or substance, undertake reasonable searching of—

  2. a person or thing—
    1. at a screening point immediately before the person or thing enters a landside security area; or
      1. while the person or thing is present in a landside security area; or
        1. at a screening point immediately before the person or thing enters a sterile area; or
          1. while the person or thing is present in a sterile area; or
            1. at a screening point immediately before the person or thing enters a security enhanced area; or
              1. while the person or thing is present in a security enhanced area:
              2. any place within the aerodrome or installation:
                1. any of the following at any place within the aerodrome or installation:
                  1. a crew member or passenger and any thing in the person’s possession:
                    1. a thing to be carried on an aircraft:
                      1. any thing that is found unattended:
                        1. a vehicle:
                          1. an aircraft.

                          2. In relation to an electronic device, the power in this section does not authorise an aviation security officer or any other person to access data in the device or to access data that is not in the device.

                          3. No provision in subsection (1) limits or affects any other provision in that subsection.

                          4. A search under this section may be done at the request of an aerodrome operator or the Police, or on the initiative of an aviation security officer.

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