More than 2800 drivers were breath-tested during the three-day Finke Desert Race south of Alice Springs at weekend.

Of these, three drivers will be summonsed for low-range drink driving. The three were found to be driving with blood alcohol levels of .062 per cent, .072 per cent and .051 per cent.

Eight drivers are to be summonsed for driving unregistered and uninsured vehicles and 48 traffic infringement notices were issued - predominantly for speeding offences.

Two women, aged 18 and 19, will receive infringement notices after police caught them lying on the roof of a vehicle which was travelling at 53 kilometres per hour. They were clinging to a piece of rope which had been strung between the front doors. The 25-year-old male driver was arrested by police after they suspected he was under the influence of a drug. He was taken to the Alice Springs Hospital after a positive drug swipe, and will be summonsed pending the results of a blood test.

Members of the Traffic Unit together with general duties members and bush station police maintained a high profile police presence throughout the event.

Members of the Substance Abuse Intelligence Desk (SAID), the Drugs Intelligence Unit and the Dog Operations Unit also conducted high profile vehicle checks with the result almost 200 vehicles were stopped and 188 grams of Cannabis were seized.

Six drug infringement notices were issued and one person will be summonsed for possessing a trafficable quantity of Cannabis after police located 85 grams of Cannabis.

Superintendent Sean Parnell said most people were well-behaved during the three-day event and appeared to have heeded the warnings by police prior to the weekend.





Media contact:
Theresa Kuilboer
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0419 803 603