Here is a summary of the latest police news on the Fleurieu.

Reynella man charged over Aldinga fires

A Reynella man was arrested on Sunday 5 January following investigations into two recent bushfires at Aldinga.

The grass fires occurred at Aldinga Beach Road and the Esplanade, Aldinga Beach on 28 December and police believe they were started in scrubland on a severe bushfire risk day.

The 31-year-old man was arrested by Southern District CIB detectives and charged with two counts of causing a bushfire, acts to endanger life and failing to truly answer questions.

The man's vehicle has been seized for forensic examination and investigations are continuing.

The man was refused police bail and was due to appear in the Christies Beach Magistrates Court on Monday 6 January.

Anyone with information that may assist detectives is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online.

Traffic roundup

Hills Fleurieu Police detected the following traffic offences, including drink and drug driving.

About 9.50pm on Tuesday 24 December on the Esplanade at Kingscote, police stopped a 22-year-old woman from Kingscote.  The driver tested positive to cannabis.  Pending the results of the sample by FSSA, she may be reported for drug driving at a later date.

Just after 11.30am on Thursday 26 December on Watson Street at Milang, police stopped a 60-year-old driver from Milang.  The man was arrested for driving whilst disqualified, driving an unregistered and uninsured vehicle, and breaching his bail.  His car was impounded for 28 days and he will appear in the Mount Barker Magistrates Court at a later date.

On Saturday 28 December police stopped a car on Main South Road at Second Valley.  The driver, a 70-year old man from Penneshaw was breath tested and recorded a positive result of 0.249.  He was reported for driving without due care, driving disqualified and drink driving.  His vehicle was impounded and he was issued an immediate loss of licence.  He will be summonsed to appear in court at a later date.

Just after 4pm on Monday 30 December on Main Road at Yankalilla, police stopped a 51-year-old driver from Aldinga Beach.  The woman was breath tested and she recorded a positive result of 0.159.  She was issued a 12-month immediate loss of licence and her vehicle was impounded.

About 1pm on Wednesday 1 January on Main South Road, Yankalilla police were advised about the erratic driving of a motorist. Police made enquiries and on 2 January, they reported a 25-year-old man from Normanville for misuse of a motor vehicle. He will be summonsed to appear in court at later date.

About 4.14pm on Thursday 2 January on Strangways Terrace at Port Elliot, police arrested a 36-year-old man from Royal Park in relation to driving unlicenced, driving an unregistered and uninsured motor vehicle, driving contrary to defect and removing the defect label. He was bailed to appear in court at later date.

Police operation shows drug driving remains prevalent

Operation Safe Holidays has officially concluded for another year but South Australia Police will continue their road safety efforts as drug driving continues to be an issue.

During the operation, which targeted the festive season and ran from 14 December 2019 until 1 January 2020, a total of 1,982 drug tests were conducted.

The tests resulted in a total of 231 drug detections, meaning almost 12 per cent of people tested were driving with THC, Methylamphetamine and/or MDMA in their system. 

These results not only reflect the importance of targeting drug drivers, but they also coincide with the launch of SAPOL’s latest drug driving campaign. 

The media campaign, which was announced at police headquarters, aims to show that you can still get caught long after the high is gone. 

Operation Safe Holidays also included thousands of alcotests, with a total of 24,921 drivers tested and 171 of those tests resulting in detection. 

This shows that 0.68 per cent of people were drink driving, suggesting the majority of road users understand that they should not drive while under the influence of alcohol.

A total of 1,220 people were issued with an exceed speed expiation notice, 162 were issued with an expiation notice for mobile phone offences, and 121 were issued an expiation notice for seatbelt related offences.  

Superintendent Bob Gray, the Officer in Charge of the Traffic Services Branch, says the results are incredibly concerning given the horror year South Australia has just experienced. 

“This is just unbelievable, after everything that’s happened in 2019, after all the lives we’ve lost on our roads, people still choose to do the wrong thing.

“And at the end of the day, this is exactly that – a choice. People choose to take these drugs, and they choose to operate a vehicle.

“There are no excuses here, take responsibility for your bad choices.”