South Australian Police have taken three dangerous drivers off the road in the State’s Mid North, after they were intercepted by the new SA Police shadow fleet at the weekend.
SAPOL launched the new shadow fleet of low visibility marked patrol vehicles (pictured) in July to assist with detecting drivers committing offences including drink and drug driving, speeding, inattentive driving, and dangerous driving – behaviours that put road users at risk.
The six-vehicle shadow fleet consists of two Subaru Outbacks, two Toyota Klugers, and two Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series.
The vehicles have subdued markings including body-color-matched, reflective decals that are subtle and hard to spot from a distance during the day, but illuminate and show police markings clearly when hit by headlights at night.
Each shadow vehicle is identically equipped to standard marked response vehicles with speed detection, alcohol/drug testing gear, and safety tools, though they lack traditional roof-mounted light bars.
In the latest deployment of the shadow fleet, at around 7.45pm on Saturday 10 October, a Kia van with seven occupants was detected travelling at 183 m/h in a 110 km/h zone on the Augusta Highway, south of Port Augusta. The driver, a 23-year-old man, was reported for exceed speed and speed dangerous. He will be summonsed to appear in the Port Pirie Magistrates Court at a later date.
Two hours later, a Mazda SUV was pulled over by police on Willowie Road, outside Wilmington for a mobile driver test.  The driver, a 44-year-old man from NSW, tested positive for cannabis and methamphetamine. He was issued with a three-month licence disqualification and reported for drug driving and possessing a prohibited weapon.  His passenger, a 42-year-old NSW man, was issued with an expiation notice for possess cannabis and equipment.
At 11.30pm the same night, a vehicle was stopped for driver testing on Tuckwell Street, Wilmington. The driver, a 47-year-old Wilmington woman, recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.116. She was reported for drink driving and issued with a six-month instant loss of licence.  She will be summonsed to appear in the Port Pirie Magistrates Court at a later date.
