Since becoming operational across New Zealand from July 1, every driver can expect to be tested at the roadside anytime and anywhere for recent use of drugs.
In a press statement police said they prioritised the safety of everyone on roads, and with the growing trend of drivers who take drugs and then are involved in deaths or serious injuries, this is a welcome additional tool to detect and deter drivers from causing harm on our roads.
“The positive effect of having road policing staff throughout New Zealand who can conduct roadside drug testing cannot be understated and is a major milestone in our ongoing efforts to improve road safety,” says Inspector Peter McKennie, acting Director of Road Policing.
“We are fortunate to have a road safety tool that aligns with what we have for alcohol today and can occur alongside breath testing at checkpoints or other types of traffic stops.
“We know alcohol and drugs are leading contributors in deaths and serious injuries.
“The numbers don’t lie. In 2024, 73 fatal crashes resulted in 91 deaths where drugs were a contributing factor. This is twice as many fatal crashes and three times the amount of people who died from alcohol that year.”
McKennie acknowledged that the majority of public feedback has been positive, and that Police aim to address the misinformation that is circulating in communities.
“The drugs that Police can test for are drugs that can impair driving ability. The drug screening test itself does not measure impairment but identifies the presence of drugs at or above a limit that indicates the drug was used recently.”
‘Recent use’ is a time period following the use of a drug when impairment may be present in most individuals. The drug limits align with those in both the Australia/New Zealand and European Standards. The law has built-in a laboratory test that confirms the roadside result, before an infringement is issued.
“Like alcohol, Police cannot advise how long after taking a substance it is safe to drive. The time it takes for the effects of drugs to wear off can vary by a person’s physiology, drug type, dose, frequency of use, and how it was taken.
“The screening tests only need a small amount of saliva; about the size of a small water droplet. The pads on the tests have been verified as being biologically safe and have been no records of any harmful reaction with any person, including the officers that use them.
“We want to emphasise that Police do not collect DNA from saliva samples, nor will drivers test positive from passive or historical exposure to these drugs.”
Since roadside drug testing began in December 2025 through to 30 June 2026, 4143 screening tests have been completed nationally with 134 tests returning a positive result and equates to a positivity rate of 3.2%.
McKennie reiterated the responsibility drivers have to ensure collectively we see a reduction of serious harm on roads.
“We want everyone to get to their destinations safely. Don’t drive after taking anything that can impair your ability to drive safely.”
McKennie is lying, “a contributing factor” is not proof of causation, e.g road conditions/weather/vehicle maintenance/pets/children/phones the contributing factor list is long. Cops just being bully pricks as is their nature.
It’s Amazing how they didn’t do the same with the COVID-19 Vaccine drugs for deaths and injuries 🤔
So true.
This is not an impaiment test protocol.
It’s Health & Safety tyranny, just another taxation and harrasment to spread CONtrol.
I will NEVER agree to let anyone stick a probe into my body!
The nasty Nats and co’s globalist experiment in a dystopian police state grows. It would be every inch as bad under Liebour no doubt. Yes we are sure you don’t collect our DNA (I’ll try not to laugh) and I wonder how many false positives these so called tests will return, for people on legitimate medication? No doubt too YOU will have to disprove their “results” with stress, time and money involved with zero compensation.
This is yet another example of the slippery slope where you are investigated with no evidence of having committed a crime. Bad police, bad government. The two always in lockstep. I detest what NZ has become under these creeps.
👍👍👍
“…YOU will have to disprove their “results” with stress, time and money involved with zero compensation….”
That is the case with ANY argument any citizen has with the friggin govt, local, national, criminal ot family cournt mafia. Thej are bleeding us dry.
They got everyone’s DNA already during the COn-of-the-century-VID scam by sticking cotton buds up everybody’s nose and sending it off for “testing”.
Nice. All for safety on the roads. So why is it going to be easier to get a driver license ?
Policy Officers carrying out Corporate rules (Acts/Statues) made up by an unconstitutional church parliament to collect fees for the New Zealand Company which is owned by the United Kingdom of Great Britain.
Absolute lies especially when it comes to cannabis. Cannabis is stored in the body for long periods when its effects have long gone and Chris Bishop knows the test is out of date and when challenged on it he could not answer any question i presented to him. What A USELESS TWAT.
I hope everyone asks the pigs to change their dirty latex gloves and ask for an unopened drugs tester, don’t catch something from these sleazy dirty w@nkers.
Do not let them put anything in your mouth.
I’d like to know if the government policy enforcers have any concerns about pharmaceutical drugs coursing through the veins of many drivers , causing vertigo sleepiness impaired vision etc,..no? How many vaccidents have there been I wonder? This is more tyrannical control under the cover of health and safety. Everyone is a criminal. Everyone is a suspect. The swaggering police thugs in their gang patches will love their new powers. I’ve got no respect for them after they demonstrated their dirtbag behavior in Wellington. Why not call NZ what it is? A police state. How I despise what this country has become. I’m pretty certain Inserting anything into any orifice without consent is rape…and you watch, the road accidents will continue. It won’t achieve anything.
Ditto …
There you go New Zealand, these mainstream politicians think we are all either alcoholics or drug addicts. Why would I vote for people who view us with such low regard?
love ya globy 🙂
Resist
Defy
Do NOT comlpy
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