New Drug Driving Infringement Regime

Since 2023 it has been a criminal offence to drive with qualifying drugs in one’s system above a high-risk level specified in a schedule to the Land Transport Act 1998. On 15 December 2025 the Land Transport (Drug Driving) Amendment Act 2025 came into force, creating an infringement offence regime for driving with a level of a qualifying drug below the high-risk level. Changes to the Act create new roadside testing powers for Police. Notably, the new infringement offences carry significant demerit points.

This webinar will outline and explain:

• The new infringement offences
• Testing procedures
• Penalties and their implications.

Learning objectives

By attending this webinar you will be:

• Familiar with the new drug driving infringement regime.
• Ready to advise your clients confidently.

Who should attend

All criminal practitioners, especially PDLA and duty lawyers.

Presenters

Stephen Parry
Pipitea Chambers, Wellington

Stephen practises criminal law. He joined the private bar in 2021, having previously managed legal services at Community Law Wellington and Hutt Valley. Stephen appears regularly as a duty lawyer and has a strong interest in the operation of the Land Transport Act 1998. He is a member of the New Zealand Law Society Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa Criminal Law Committee.
 

Peter Ross
Pipitea Chambers, Wellington

Peter has almost 15 years’ experience in criminal litigation. After working for a private firm and the Public Defence Service, he joined Pipitea Chambers in 2017 as barrister sole. Peter’s work is primarily focused on Porirua, where he is involved with the District Court, the Young Adults Court, and Youth Court. Peter is also a duty lawyer, on the PDLA roster, and has been involved in the CLE New Zealand Law Society Duty Lawyer Training Programme since 2018.
 

Resources

A PDF book is included in the webinar fee and will be emailed to you along with your ticket, one week before the webinar.

Held online, you will be emailed a link to join the webinar one week before. For information on what is required to participate in the webinar, click here. PowerPoint slides will be emailed out after 3pm the day before the webinar.

Fee (Excl GST)

Law Society Members benefit from up to 30% off – please login to receive member pricing

• $139 – Law Society members & associate members
• $200 – Non-members

View group pricing options

Do you want to register more than one person for this course? Use the 'register others' button below or Click here

CPD

• If you attended the live webinar, you will receive an electronic certificate of attendance as verification for your CPD records.
• You can view and hear the presentation again, as many times as you wish in your own time for no additional cost.

• Under the CPD Scheme only those who attend a live webinar are eligible to claim CPD hours.
• If you registered but were unable to attend on the day, you can view and hear the archived recording of the presentation.

Cancellation and Refund Policy

You may cancel your registration eight working days in advance of an event, and you will receive a refund less a 25% administration fee. If you cancel less than eight working days in advance of the event, no refund is payable. If you are unable to attend, you may transfer your registration to another person. If you wish to do so you must advise CLE New Zealand Law Society in writing of the change. CLE reserves the right to close registrations, and cancel or reschedule an event as necessary. Where an event is cancelled by CLE, a full refund is payable. View full Law Society event terms.