Police today began roadside drug testing in the Wellington District, the first step in a national rollout the Government says will be operating across the country by mid-2026.

Transport Minister Chris Bishop said the saliva-based testing is aimed at curbing drug-impaired driving, citing government figures that around 30 percent of road deaths involve an impairing drug. “Drug users, be warned,” he said, naming cannabis, meth, MDMA and cocaine as the substances screened at the roadside.

How it will work:

• Officers will use a saliva screening device to check for THC (cannabis), methamphetamine, MDMA and cocaine.
• A positive result triggers a second roadside screen. Two positives mean the driver is prohibited from driving for 12 hours.
• A saliva sample is then sent to a laboratory, where it is tested for 25 impairing substances listed in Schedule 5 of the Land Transport (Drug Driving) Amendment Act 2022.
• An infringement is only issued if the lab result is positive. Most drivers who screen negative should be on their way in about 10 minutes, Police say.

Refusing or failing to comply with a roadside drug test will result in a $400 infringement, 75 demerit points and a 12-hour driving prohibition.

Drivers cannot rely on a prescription or medical note at the roadside to avoid or dispute a screen. If an infringement is issued for a prescribed drug, a medical defence can be applied for after the fact.

Police Minister Mark Mitchell said testing will scale up from April 2026, with officers able to test “anytime, anywhere” once fully deployed. The release does not state how many devices are in use today or the infringement amount for a positive laboratory result.

The advice from Police is straightforward: if you’ve taken impairing drugs, don’t drive.