New Zealand Driving and Traffic Law: Fines and Demerits
New Zealand's road rules are set by the Land Transport Act 1998 and enforced by the Police and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency. Most everyday penalties are infringement fines and demerit points, and one quirk of the system surprises a lot of drivers: a speeding ticket from a camera carries no demerit points at all. This section links to a guide on each area.
This is general information about New Zealand driving law, not legal advice. For your own situation, consult a lawyer or your local Community Law centre.
Fines, points, and speed
The demerit points system tracks driving offences, and reaching 100 points in a two-year period suspends your licence for three months. The single most misunderstood point is that demerits attach only to an offence an officer detects in person, so a speeding fine caught by a camera comes with a fine but no demerit points. Speeding fines rise in bands with how far over the limit you were, and going more than 40 km/h over can bring an on-the-spot 28-day suspension.
Alcohol and distraction
The drink-driving limits are 250 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath or 50 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood for a driver aged 20 or over, and zero for anyone under 20. Using a hand-held mobile phone while driving is an infringement carrying a $150 fine and 20 demerit points, while properly mounted hands-free use is generally allowed. For how driving law fits with the rest of New Zealand's everyday law, see the New Zealand law guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many demerit points is a licence suspension in New Zealand?
Accumulating 100 or more demerit points within any two-year period results in a three-month suspension of your driver licence. Different offences carry different point values, and the points stay on your record for two years from the date of the offence.
Do speed camera tickets give you demerit points in New Zealand?
No. A speeding infringement detected by a safety camera carries a fine but no demerit points. Demerit points attach only to an offence an officer detects in person and issues to an identified driver, because a camera notice goes to the registered owner rather than a proven driver.
What is the drink-driving limit in New Zealand?
For a driver aged 20 or over, the limit is 250 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath, or 50 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, which is 0.05. For a driver under 20, the limit is zero. Refusing an evidential breath or blood test is itself an offence.
What is the fine for using a phone while driving in New Zealand?
Using a hand-held mobile phone while driving is an infringement offence that carries a $150 fine and 20 demerit points. Hands-free or securely mounted use is generally allowed, and this applies even when you are stopped in traffic, because you are still driving.