David Ridgway is calling on Police Minister Michael Wright to tell South Australians what his priorities are: making South Australia’s rural roads safer or shameless revenue-raising.
 

The call follows an apparent police “blitz” in the regions of Yorke Peninsula and the Mid North, leaving road users and the Opposition confused about Labor’s seemingly obscured approach to road safety.
 

One police officer stated that it was the latest instalment of Operation Rural Focus.
 

Over the course of the last week, the following examples have been relayed to Mr Ridgway:
 

• A farmer fined $370 for having mud on his number plate;
• People fined for having bags of groceries unsecured in their back seats;
• A farmer booked for having a shovel in the tray of his ute;
• The generally rude, intimidating and over-zealous attitude shown by some Police Officers involved.
 

“The operation is not assisting in reducing the region’s road toll as much as it is pinning motorists with gratuitous fines for trivial matters,” said Mr Ridgway.
 

“The examples I have been given of police actions throughout the blitz do nothing but cause anger and intimidation within the community, discrediting SAPol throughout any genuine road safety measures.”
 

Mr Ridgway has received a copy of a letter to the Minister, from his colleague Steven Griffiths, the Member for Goyder.
 
The letter had informed Minister Wright of an initial example of what was unfolding within his electorate, along with his general concern about the operation’s objective.

 

“The Minister is aware of community concern and the matter has been well publicised since midway through last week. I am confident that a number of media enquiries have been made to the Minister.
 

“People are understandably confused about the objectives of this operation and how the examples above will have any tangible benefits for our rural road safety. The Minister must explain what is going on, immediately.”