Key Takeaways
- A 40-year-old man has become the first person to test positive for drug-impaired driving under New Zealand’s new roadside oral fluid drug screening regime
- The man was found to have methamphetamine in his system after being stopped at a police checkpoint
- The new roadside drug testing regime was introduced in the Wellington region and will be rolled out nationwide by mid-2026
- The regime aims to detect four impairing drugs: THC (cannabis), methamphetamine, MDMA (ecstasy), and cocaine
- The introduction of the new regime is part of efforts to reduce drug-impaired driving and make roads safer
Introduction to the New Roadside Drug Screening Regime
The introduction of New Zealand’s new roadside oral fluid drug screening regime has resulted in its first positive test, with a 40-year-old man being caught driving with methamphetamine in his system. The man was stopped at a police checkpoint on Hutt Rd, where officers used the new device to detect the presence of impairing drugs. The device is designed to detect four specific drugs: THC (cannabis), methamphetamine, MDMA (ecstasy), and cocaine. The test came back positive for methamphetamine, and the man was subsequently required to provide a saliva sample for laboratory testing. However, he was unable to do so and was then asked to provide a blood sample, which he refused.
The Consequences of Refusing to Comply
As a result of refusing to provide a blood sample, the man was summonsed to appear in the Hutt Valley District Court in January and has had his licence suspended for 28 days. The man and his young daughter, who was with him in the car at the time, were taken home in a police car. The incident highlights the serious consequences of drug-impaired driving and the importance of complying with police requests. Superintendent Steve Greally, Director of Road Policing, emphasized the need for strict enforcement, stating that drug-impaired driving has caused "some of the most heartbreaking and horrific crashes" he has witnessed.
The Impact of Drug-Impaired Driving
Superintendent Greally’s comments underscore the devastating impact of drug-impaired driving on families and communities. He noted that he has seen "the devastation etched on the faces of whānau when they hear the unthinkable: that their loved one is gone." The introduction of the new roadside drug testing regime is part of efforts to reduce the number of drug-impaired driving incidents and make roads safer. By detecting and removing drugged drivers from the roads, the police aim to prevent tragic crashes and protect the lives of innocent people. As Greally stated, "We make no apology for screening drivers to see if they’ve recently used drugs, and getting a drugged driver off our roads makes them safer."
The Rollout of the New Regime
The new roadside drug testing regime was introduced in the Wellington region on Monday and will be rolled out to other parts of the country from April 2026, with nationwide coverage expected by mid-2026. The introduction of the new regime is a significant step forward in the fight against drug-impaired driving, and it is expected to have a positive impact on road safety. By providing police with the tools they need to detect and remove drugged drivers from the roads, the regime will help to reduce the risk of crashes and save lives. As the regime is rolled out across the country, it is likely that more drivers will be caught and held accountable for drug-impaired driving, making New Zealand’s roads safer for everyone.
Conclusion
The introduction of New Zealand’s new roadside oral fluid drug screening regime marks an important milestone in the fight against drug-impaired driving. The first positive test under the new regime highlights the need for strict enforcement and the importance of complying with police requests. As the regime is rolled out nationwide, it is expected to have a positive impact on road safety, reducing the number of drug-impaired driving incidents and saving lives. By detecting and removing drugged drivers from the roads, the police can help to prevent tragic crashes and protect the lives of innocent people, making New Zealand’s roads safer for everyone.
