Fisheries Act 2000

This section applies if an authorised person believes on reasonable grounds that a person has committed, is committing or is about to commit an offence against this Act.

The authorised person may, to exercise a function under part 7 (Enforcement), direct the driver of the vehicle to stop the vehicle (a stop vehicle direction)—

without delay; or

at the nearest place that the vehicle can be safely stopped as indicated by the authorised person.

Note An authorised person can enter a vehicle stopped under this section (see s 54 (1) (f)) and inspect or examine, etc anything in the vehicle (see s 59).

A direction may be given to a driver orally or by means of a sign or signal (electronic or otherwise) or in any other way.

A direction to a driver ceases to be operative to the extent that an authorised person—

gives the driver or other person a later inconsistent direction; or

indicates to the driver that the direction is no longer operative.

However, an authorised person may direct a vehicle to be stopped only for the amount of time necessary for the authorised person to exercise the function.

In this section:

in, a vehicle, includes on the vehicle.

vehicle includes vessel.