This month, roadside drug testing is beginning in Wellington, to be followed by a rollout to the rest of the country next year. If a driver gets a positive result, they will be given another swab test to confirm the positive. Then they will be issued with an infringement notice and prohibited from driving for the next 12 hours.

If a lab test confirms the presence of one drug in your saliva, you’ll be fined $200 and given 50 demerit points. If two or more are identified, the penalty is a $400 fine and 75 demerit points.

A previously uploaded version of this video said disqualifications are included in the penalties brought in by the new roadside drug testing regime. This is incorrect. Penalties including disqualifications were brought in by the Land Transport (Drug Driving) Amendment Act 2022, where a blood test determines the offence.

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