Roadside drug testing is being expanded across New Zealand, with police set to have nationwide coverage by July, allowing officers to stop drivers at any time to screen for drugs.
Under the system, police – using new oral-fluid testing devices – will be able to stop any motor vehicle to screen the driver for the presence of four key drugs.
The devices will screen for four drugs, including THC (cannabis), methamphetamine, MDMA (ecstasy) and cocaine.
Initially starting as a trial in the capital last December, Transport Minister Chris Bishop said the programme had since rolled out to the Central, Tasman, Waikato, Counties Manukau, Auckland and Canterbury Districts.
"As of 19 May this year, police had conducted nearly 1500 roadside drug screening tests across five districts, resulting in 52 positive tests."
Bishop said drug-impaired drivers were a "menace on our roads" that were involved in around 30% of road deaths.
"If you take drugs and drive, you are putting innocent lives at risk, and we will not tolerate it."
Police Minister Mark Mitchell said the tool would strengthen police's ability to target a key contributor to death and serious injury on New Zealand roads.
Operational knowledge, data and feedback from the testing phase had informed staff training across the country, he added.
"They are on track to have nationwide roadside drug testing coverage by 1 July 2026. That means police will be able to test drivers for qualifying drugs anywhere, at any time, just as they can for alcohol."
He said it was too early to draw national trends but that police would monitor results to inform where enforcement was targeted.
"Police are already seeing an increase in positive roadside drug tests as testing expands through more districts, which is exactly why this tool matters," he said.
"Roadside drug testing sends a clear message: if you take drugs and drive, you should expect to be caught."
From July 1, police would be required to conduct 50,000 roadside drug tests during the fiscal year as part of the Road Policing Investment Programme (2024-27).
Under the new regime, police will be able to stop any motor vehicle at any time to screen the driver for the presence of drugs.
The first roadside screening test will involve a quick tongue swipe, which will take several minutes. Most drivers who return a negative test result will be free to go within around five minutes.
If the test is positive, officers will take a saliva sample for laboratory analysis. While the roadside device detects four key drugs, the laboratory can test for up to 25 substances.
It will be followed by a second roadside screening test. If the test is positive, the driver will be prohibited from driving for 12 hours to address any immediate road-safety risk. Drivers who return a positive laboratory result will be issued an infringement notice.
Drivers who refuse or fail to comply with a roadside drug test will also be issued an infringement notice.
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