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Driving offences and penalties

You must drive within all of the conditions listed on your driver licence, and drive according to New Zealand's traffic laws.

If you don't you could incur penalties such as fines and demerit points. You could even have your licence suspended, or be disqualified from driving.

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Alcohol sentencing
From 10 September 2012, two additional sentencing options will be available to the courts when dealing with repeat or first time high-end drink-drivers.

Offences and penalities

You’re legally required to hold a current and valid driver licence if you drive on New Zealand roads. If you don’t, for example you drive with an expired licence, you risk incurring a range of penalties.
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Demerit points

Certain driving offences incur demerit points. If you accumulate 100 or more demerit points in any two-year period, your licence can be suspended for three months. Find out which offences incur demerit points, and the number of demerit points for each of those offences.
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