Speed enforcement
Version : 16.0
Detailed table of contents
This chapter contains the following topics:
Summary
• Introduction
• Speed discretion levels
• Lower speed tolerance during official New Zealand holiday periods
• Use of discretion
• School zones
Speed enforcement equipment
• Who can use speed enforcement equipment?
• Certification standards
• Calibration testing
• Police vehicle speedometers
• Radar/laser equipment
• Interference with operation of speed measuring device
• Motorcycle officers
Roles and responsibilities
This is an uncontrolled document printed for reference only.
The controlled document can be found in the Police Instructions site which is accessible via the New Zealand Police Intranet.
Page 1 of 7
Speed enforcement, Continued…
Version : 16.0
Summary
This section contains the following topics:
• Introduction
• Speed discretion levels
• Lower speed tolerance during official New Zealand holiday periods
• Use of discretion
• School zones
Introduction
Excessive speed is a major cause of road trauma, and an important factor in the severity
of crashes. Enforcement of speed limits is an effective activity, due to its wide deterrent
effect, to change road user driving behaviour.
Speed limits must be consistently enforced by appropriately trained Police employees,
using approved and calibrated equipment to:
• reduce mean speeds and influence a reduction in road trauma
• ensure Police enforcement action is fair and transparent
• enable Police to recognise reasonable variations in speedometer accuracy across the
national vehicle fleet
• provide motorists with a certainty of outcome should they drive at excessive speeds.
This chapter applies to all Police employees, hereafter referred to as “Police”.
Refer to the ‘Fleeing Driver’ and ‘Traffic Patrol Techniques’ chapters for stopping drivers.
For the operation of speed detection equipment refer to the ‘Measurement Standards
Laboratory Speed Detection Operations Code’.
Note: All mobile and static speed cameras must be operated in accordance with the
‘Speed camera enforcement’ chapter.
Speed discretion levels
These principles apply, other than in exceptional circumstances.
Drivers who are detected…
must be…
at a speed of more than 10 km/h above the speed limit
driving a heavy motor vehicle, at a speed of more than 5 km/h above
issued with
the speed limit
infringement
towing a light trailer, at a speed of more than 5 km/h above the speed
/offence
limit
notice or
within a school zone, at a speed of more than 4 km/h above the speed
summons.
limit
Lower speed tolerance during official New Zealand holiday periods
Increased traffic density and higher than usual network demands increase the road
trauma risk during New Zealand's official holiday periods.
Police will increase the focus on speeding motorists by enforcing a lowered speed
tolerance of 4 km/h during these periods. Motorists exceeding the 4km/h tolerance must
be dealt with promptly by Police. The level of action taken by Police will be at the
discretion of the officer, after consideration of the circumstances surrounding the
offending, however, it is vital that visible Police action occurs.
The official New Zealand holiday periods, for which the Ministry of Transport’ reports
fatalities, are:
This is an uncontrolled document printed for reference only.
The controlled document can be found in the Police Instructions site which is accessible via the New Zealand Police Intranet.
Page 2 of 7
Speed enforcement, Continued…
Version : 16.0
• The
Easter holiday covers the period from 4:00pm on the day before Good Friday
through to 6:00am the following Tuesday.
•
Queen's Birthday holiday covers the period from 4:00pm on the Friday before the
weekend through to 6am the following Tuesday.
• The
Labour Weekend holiday covers the period from 4:00pm on the Friday before
the holiday through to 6:00am the following Tuesday.
• The
Christmas holiday covers the period from 4:00pm on 24 December (22 or 23
December if 24 December falls on a Saturday or Sunday respectively) and 6:00am on
3 January (if 1 January falls on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday), 4 January (if 1
January falls on a Sunday), or 5 January (if 1 January falls on Thursday, Friday or
Saturday).
Note: Implementation and enforcement of the lower speed tolerance outside of the
official holiday periods must be approved in writing by the Assistant Commissioner: Road
Policing or on the direction of the Police Executive.
Use of discretion
Applying discretion to trauma offences should be considered in line with the following
principles:
• Police will always consider driver explanations
• discretion should be exercised wisely and within the guidelines of this chapter
• a driver must show exceptional mitigating circumstances to justify being issued a
warning for a trauma causing offence
• it is reasonable for offending drivers to be treated both fairly and consistently.
Police can exercise a wider degree of discretion when enforcing offences not directly
related to speed or trauma, i.e., a warrant of fitness which has expired within a month of
being stopped by Police. Please refer to the ‘Traffic compliance scheme’ chapter.
School zones
A school zone is designated as a single named road, no more than 250m metres from
the school boundary, on which any direct school access exists. Early childhood centres
can be ‘zoned’ if a road sign identifies where the centre is.
Speed limits are enforced on a risk targeted basis, between 0730 and 1800 hours on any
school day or any other time there is a school activity or event. This may include sports
activities and drama nights.
As part of the ‘Speed Kills Kids’ programme, any driver who is detected within a school
zone, at a speed of more than 4 km/h above the speed limit,
must be issued with an
offence notice.
This is an uncontrolled document printed for reference only.
The controlled document can be found in the Police Instructions site which is accessible via the New Zealand Police Intranet.
Page 3 of 7
Speed enforcement, Continued…
Version : 16.0
Speed enforcement equipment
This section contains the following topics:
• Who can use speed enforcement equipment?
• Certification standards
• Calibration testing
• Police vehicle speedometers
• Radar/laser equipment
• Interference with operation of speed measuring device
• Motorcycle officers
Who can use speed enforcement equipment?
Only Police employees, who hold or are undergoing supervised training for a ‘Certificate
of Proficiency for New Zealand Police Speed Enforcement Equipment’, may use that
equipment for speed enforcement purposes.
If speed enforcement equipment is deployed from a vehicle, it must only be from a
Police owned or operated vehicle.
Note: All speed detection equipment used by Police must be operated in accordance
with the ‘Speed Detection Operations Code’.
Certification standards
Section 146 of the Land Transport Act (LTA) 1998 requires all speed enforcement
equipment to be calibrated within a 12 month period. This includes:
• mobile and static speed cameras
• static speed camera sites
• laser speed guns
• Police vehicle radar speed detectors and tuning forks
• Police vehicle speedometers.
Note: Speed enforcement equipment that has not been calibrated within the last 12
months, and issued with a current certificate of accuracy, must
not be used for speed
enforcement purposes.
Calibration testing
Police Calibration Services (PCS) subject all speed enforcement equipment to calibration
testing to ensure the equipment is functioning in accordance with the manufacturer's
specifications and accurately records a vehicle's speed. PCS advises districts when their
equipment is due for calibration, and holds the certificates of accuracy for every device.
Police vehicle speedometers
These must be calibrated annually in each district, by appropriately qualified personnel
determined and trained by PCS. When vehicles pass calibration, a Certificate of Accuracy
Speedometer and/or Odometer (POL430) is issued.
Radar/laser equipment
Radar/laser equipment can be used on all roads; however, these guidelines must be
followed.
Ensure Note
Equipment is operated in accordance
If deployed for speed enforcement
with the Police Speed Detection
purposes. This means that laser speed
Operators Manual (DUT244), appropriate enforcement equipment can only be used
to the device being used.
whilst stationary.
This is an uncontrolled document printed for reference only.
The controlled document can be found in the Police Instructions site which is accessible via the New Zealand Police Intranet.
Page 4 of 7
Speed enforcement, Continued…
Version : 16.0
When speed is enforced in an area where Unless there is good reason to do so, such
drivers are making a transition from a
as protecting people operating road works
higher speed to a lower speed area,
or to ensure the safety of children.
vehicles are not targeted within 250
metres from the point where the posted
This does not apply in a school zone.
speed changes.
When vehicles are used to operate speed Police have an exemption from parking
enforcement equipment, they are parked related offences that arise under the Land
in accordance with the Land Transport
Transport (Road User) Rule 2004, by
(Road User) Rule 2004, or any bylaws in
virtue of clause 1.8(3)(b) where the
force for that location.
action was necessary in the performance
of duty. However, this exemption should
be used in limited circumstances.
Dispite the general exemption under the
Land Transport (Road User Rule) 2004,
for the purposes of staff and public safety,
it is a requirement that enforcement
vehicles are illuminated from a light
source so that it is visible
or operate their
vehicle park lights when conducting speed
checks, or any similar enforcement, when
stationary on the roadside during the
hours of darkness.
All speed enforcement equipment must
Unless there is a specific operation
be operated in an overt manner. Hidden
targeting offending consisting of:
or camouflaged deployment must not be • sustained loss of traction
used.
• engaging in an unauthorised street or
drag race
• dangerous or reckless driving
• an operation that cannot effectively or
safely be conducted using overt means
• heavy motor vehicles (HMVs),
Such operations must have written
operation orders and have prior written
approval from the District Road Policing
Manager. In the case of HMVs, prior
written approval should be gained from
the O/C Commercial Vehicle Investigation
Unit.
Unmarked patrol vehicles may be used for
speed enforcement; however, Police are
reminded of the risks associated with
speed enforcement from these vehicles.
Interference with operation of speed measuring device
It is an offence to use or possess any equipment designed to interfere with the operation
of a speed measuring device (i.e. radar jammer) in a motor vehicle (s16B).
Motorcycle officers
Motorcycle officers who have completed the Motorcycle Qualifying Course and are
trained and certified in the use of laser devices from Police motorcycles (in accordance
with the Police Speed Detection Operators Manual, DUT244) can enforce speed limits of
traffic travelling in the same direction in which their motorcycle is parked.
This is an uncontrolled document printed for reference only.
The controlled document can be found in the Police Instructions site which is accessible via the New Zealand Police Intranet.
Page 5 of 7
Speed enforcement, Continued…
Version : 16.0
Any offending vehicle can be signalled to stop, or officers may follow the offending
vehicle and stop it where it is safe or practicable to do so after full consideration of the
risks involved to both the motorcycle officer and other road users.
This is an uncontrolled document printed for reference only.
The controlled document can be found in the Police Instructions site which is accessible via the New Zealand Police Intranet.
Page 6 of 7
Speed enforcement, Continued…
Version : 16.0
Roles and responsibilities
Role
has responsibility for ensuring...
District Commander
• this chapter is implemented in their district
(or their delegated
• staff are trained to use the equipment they are using
representative)
• all speed enforcement equipment is presented for calibrating
when required
• all reasonable measures are taken to ensure the equipment
is well looked after and operated correctly
• that if any radar or laser equipment that is supplied to a
district is lost or damaged, (not considered to be normal
operational wear or usage), the equipment is replaced or
repaired
• only certified speed enforcement equipment is used
• training records are maintained updated and held in the
district
• breaches of this chapter are reported to the National
Manager: Road Policing.
National Manager:
• the appropriate authority is gained before new speed
Road Policing
enforcement equipment is deployed and certified
• PCS complete annual certifications of accuracy for speed
enforcement equipment
• support to districts is provided as appropriate
• audit adherence to this chapter.
Police Calibration
• a database is maintained and certificates of proficiency
Services (PCS)
produced for all Police who have passed the Speed Detection
Code of Operations module
• management of the approval system for Police vehicle
speedometer calibration
• an annual calibration of all radar equipment
• a biannual calibration of all mobile and static speed cameras
• a biannual calibration of all laser equipment
• an annual inspection and certification of static camera sites.
Police involved in
• adherence to this chapter
speed enforcement
• completion of daily operating checks and log books.
This is an uncontrolled document printed for reference only.
The controlled document can be found in the Police Instructions site which is accessible via the New Zealand Police Intranet.
Page 7 of 7
