Driving and traffic law
Anti-cruising laws
Breaching local bylaws against “cruising”
Land Transport Act 1998, ss 22A(3A), 22AB Land Transport (Offences and Penalties) Regulations 1999, Schedule 1
Local councils can make bylaws restricting or banning “cruising” on their local roads. “Cruising” means driving a vehicle repeatedly in the same direction, and over the same section of road, in a way that either draws attention to the power or sound of the engine, or that creates a convoy of vehicles that interferes with traffic flow.
It’s a criminal offence to breach an anti-cruising bylaw. You can be fined up to $1,000 if prosecuted through the courts, or given a $150 on-the-spot infringement notice.
Christchurch City Council, for example, has a bylaw banning cruising on specific roads, between 10 pm and 5 am seven days a week.
Christchurch City Council Cruising and Prohibited Times on Roads Bylaw 2023
Waka Kotahi, the NZ Transport Agency, can also make anti-cruising bylaws for state highways.
Impounding for cruising after a warning
Land Transport Act 1998, ss 22AF, 96(1AA)
If you’re stopped for breaching a cruising bylaw, the police can give you a warning notice, which they’ll attach to your vehicle (this will be either as well as, or instead of, giving you an infringement notice for cruising). This means that if they stop you again for breaching a cruising bylaw any time within the next 90 days (three months), your vehicle will be impounded for 28 days (see: “Losing your vehicle: Impounding and confiscation”).
Land Transport Act 1998, s 52(8)
If you remove, cover up, or don’t comply with the warning notice, you can be fined up to $10,000.
