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Criminal & traffic law

Getting towed: Your rights when dealing with tow-truck operators

Wheel clamping

Land Transport (Wheel Clamping) Amendment Act 2019, Land Transport (Offences and Penalties) Amendment Regulations (No 3) 2019

These rules apply to private parking operators who use wheel clamping (“immobilising devices”) on private property, like a shopping centre carpark. They don’t apply to vehicles parked on a public road.

  • The operator can’t charge you more than $100 (incl GST) to remove the clamp.
  • The operator must be available (within reason) to respond to your request to remove the wheel clamp.
  • The operator must remove the wheel clamp as soon as reasonably practicable after you have paid the fee.
  • It is an offence for the operator to charge you more than the $100 maximum fee.
  • It is also an offence for the operator to fail to remove a wheel clamp within a reasonable time after you have paid the fee.

There are fines available of up to $3000 (for an individual) and $15,000 (for a company) for these offences.

When can you challenge wheel clamping?

  • If your parking did not break any rules (like there was no warning sign in the carpark), you could argue that the clamping was unjustified.
  • If you are charged more than the maximum $100 fee for removal, you could argue that the clamping was unreasonable.
  • If the person who arranged for your vehicle to be clamped was not the owner of the land or business (or their employee) where you parked, you could argue that the clamping was unauthorised.

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Driving and traffic law

Where to go for more support

Community Law

www.communitylaw.org.nz

Your local Community Law Centre can provide free initial legal advice and information.

Applying for a limited licence” (guide)

This Plain English guide, plus template application forms and affidavits, will help you apply for a limited licence. It’s available on the Community Law website – www.communitylaw.org.nz

New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA)

www.nzta.govt.nz

Phone: 0800 699 000
Email: info@nzta.govt.nz

The NZTA site provides a wide range of driving and road safety information, including on topics covered in this chapter.

You can read and download fact sheets and other publications from their site, or you can order hard copies by contacting them, including their fact-sheet on Legal mobile phone use while driving.

www.nzta.govt.nz/assets/Safety/docs/legal-mobile-phone-use-while-driving-fact-sheet-june-2020.pdf

NZ Police

Frequently Asked Questions

www.police.govt.nz/advice/faq

The “Driving/road safety” and “Tickets/infringements” section of this webpage have Frequently Asked Questions about traffic fines, speeding, demerit points and where you can pay your fines.

Consumer protection

“Parking, towing and clamping”

www.consumerprotection.govt.nz/help-product-service/cars/parking-clamping-towing

This Consumer Protection webpage has information about the law covering tow trucks and wheel-clamping on public and private property, and about unreasonable fees in private car parks.

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