Jail for abuse of WOF system
A man has been sentenced in the Auckland District Court to six months’ imprisonment after breaches of transport law, including the unauthorised issuing of warrants of fitness (WOFs).
Between December 2022 and June 2023, Dwayne Lord fraudulently accessed the NZTA’s vehicle inspection system using his employer’s credentials, despite not being an appointed vehicle inspector.
Over four separate occasions, he issued 78 WOFs without inspecting most of the vehicles.
The NZTA has welcomed Lord’s recent sentencing after its investigation uncovered the deliberate abuse of the system and confirmed few of the vehicles had been inspected by Lord or any authorised inspector.
Brett Aldridge, NZTA national manager road safety regulations, says Lord’s actions were a clear violation of public trust and a potential risk to road safety.
“New Zealanders rely on WOF inspections to identify actual, emerging, and potentially dangerous vehicle faults,” he explains.
“Fraudulent inspection records not only undermine the integrity of the system, they also pose a real and serious risk to the safety of all road users.”
Aldridge says the NZTA views this case as a blatant abuse of the land transport system and a reminder of the importance of maintaining strict oversight and accountability in vehicle safety certification.
“This sentencing should send a clear message to the industry: anyone who attempts to manipulate or abuse the inspection system should expect to be caught and held accountable.
“NZTA has robust monitoring and investigative capabilities, and we will not hesitate to take action against individuals who compromise vehicle safety and public trust.
“At the same time, NZTA acknowledges that the vast majority of vehicle inspectors and industry professionals are doing an excellent job by upholding high standards, following the rules, and helping keep New Zealand roads safe. Their commitment should not be overshadowed by the actions of single individuals.”
The NZTA notes its safer vehicles team regularly reviews inspecting organisations and vehicle inspectors to check compliance.
If serious non-compliance is found, the team ensures the right regulatory response is applied, including enforcement action.
Suspected fraud can be reported to the agency by emailing whistleblower@nzta.govt.nz.
