sec.31Searching vehicles without warrant

### sec.31 Searching vehicles without warrant A police officer who reasonably suspects any of the prescribed circumstances for searching a vehicle without a warrant exist may, without warrant, do any of the following— stop a vehicle; detain a vehicle and the occupants of the vehicle; search a vehicle and anything in it for anything relevant to the circumstances for which the vehicle and its occupants are detained. Also, a police officer may stop, detain and search a vehicle and anything in it if the police officer reasonably suspects— the vehicle is being used unlawfully; or a person in the vehicle may be arrested without warrant under section 365 or under a warrant under the Corrective Services Act 2006 . If the driver or a passenger in the vehicle is arrested for an offence involving something the police officer may search for under this part without a warrant, a police officer may also detain the vehicle and anyone in it and search the vehicle and anything in it. If it is impracticable to search for a thing that may be concealed in a vehicle at the place where the vehicle is stopped, the police officer may take the vehicle to a place with appropriate facilities for searching the vehicle and search the vehicle at that place. The police officer may seize all or part of a thing— that may provide evidence of the commission of an offence; or that the person intends to use to cause self harm or harm to someone else; or if section 32 (1) (b) applies, that is an antique firearm. Power under this section to search a vehicle includes power to enter the vehicle, stay in it and re-enter it as often as necessary to remove from it a thing seized under subsection (5) . s 31 amd 2000 No. 22 s 3 sch ; 2000 No. 63 s 276 sch 2 ; 2006 No. 29 s 508 ; 2016 No. 62 s 289 ; 2024 No. 24 s 57 sch 1 pt 2 (sec.31-ssec.1) A police officer who reasonably suspects any of the prescribed circumstances for searching a vehicle without a warrant exist may, without warrant, do any of the following— stop a vehicle; detain a vehicle and the occupants of the vehicle; search a vehicle and anything in it for anything relevant to the circumstances for which the vehicle and its occupants are detained. (sec.31-ssec.2) Also, a police officer may stop, detain and search a vehicle and anything in it if the police officer reasonably suspects— the vehicle is being used unlawfully; or a person in the vehicle may be arrested without warrant under section 365 or under a warrant under the Corrective Services Act 2006 . (sec.31-ssec.3) If the driver or a passenger in the vehicle is arrested for an offence involving something the police officer may search for under this part without a warrant, a police officer may also detain the vehicle and anyone in it and search the vehicle and anything in it. (sec.31-ssec.4) If it is impracticable to search for a thing that may be concealed in a vehicle at the place where the vehicle is stopped, the police officer may take the vehicle to a place with appropriate facilities for searching the vehicle and search the vehicle at that place. (sec.31-ssec.5) The police officer may seize all or part of a thing— that may provide evidence of the commission of an offence; or that the person intends to use to cause self harm or harm to someone else; or if section 32 (1) (b) applies, that is an antique firearm. (sec.31-ssec.6) Power under this section to search a vehicle includes power to enter the vehicle, stay in it and re-enter it as often as necessary to remove from it a thing seized under subsection (5) . - (a) stop a vehicle; - (b) detain a vehicle and the occupants of the vehicle; - (c) search a vehicle and anything in it for anything relevant to the circumstances for which the vehicle and its occupants are detained. - (a) the vehicle is being used unlawfully; or - (b) a person in the vehicle may be arrested without warrant under section 365 or under a warrant under the Corrective Services Act 2006 . - (a) that may provide evidence of the commission of an offence; or - (b) that the person intends to use to cause self harm or harm to someone else; or - (c) if section 32 (1) (b) applies, that is an antique firearm.