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In May 2025, the Minister of Transport and Minister of Police announced that the Government is progressing a suite of measures to deter anti-social and intimidating behaviour on our roads.
Anti-social behaviour on our roads includes drivers who flee Police, participate in illegal street racing, unlawful bike gatherings, siren battles or intimidating convoys.
These behaviours can be disruptive and dangerous, negatively effecting the safety of our roads and communities.
Police reporting suggests some of these behaviours are increasing in frequency and sophistication. There have been several recent high-profile events of anti-social road use reported across New Zealand. These events can include large groups, that can make it difficult for Police to respond to and manage this dangerous behaviour.
You can read the Bill here: Antisocial Road Use Legislation Amendment Bill (legislation.govt.nz)
The proposed legislation will create new offences and strengthen existing offences and penalties with the aim to deter participation in anti-social road use activities. The legislation will provide the Police greater tools to respond to and manage anti-social road use events.
Key changes progressing in the Bill will:
require the courts to either forfeit or destroy vehicles that commit certain anti-social road use offences, with exceptions,
create a new offence for ‘intimidating convoys’ with the consequence of vehicle forfeiture or destruction,
expand and strengthen Police powers to require the registered person of a vehicle to provide details of the driver if the vehicle was used to flee Police, so that it applies to other anti-social road use offences. The consequence of withholding information includes vehicle forfeiture or destruction,
give Police greater powers to temporarily close areas and disperse crowds at anti-social road events, including by establishing a new $1,000 infringement fine for those who fail to leave areas when directed to by Police, and
increase excessive noise fines to target siren battles, from $50 to $300 for the infringement and from $1000 to $3000 for the court fine.
After its first reading, the Bill will be referred to the Justice Committee (the Committee).
The Committee will then call for public submissions on the Bill. Your views are important to ensure the Government’s proposals are targeted, proportionate, effective, and do not present any unintended consequences. You can find out more detail on how to submit here: Make a submission (parliament.nz)
The FAQs above (see More information) provide further context and information.
Officials will analyse submissions and make suggestions to the Committee about changes to the Bill. The Committee will review this and suggest changes to the Government that they think are needed for the proposals to work as intended.
The Select Committee process is due to be completed before the end of 2025. The Government intends the Bill to be enacted in the first half of next year, and for changes to take effect in the second half of 2026. However, when the Bill becomes law will ultimately depend on the next stages of the legislative process.