SECURETEC DRUGWIPE 3 S Joins WA Police Roadside Arsenal
Western Australia's fight against impaired driving just got a new piece of kit. A recent gazette notice confirms the approval of the SECURETEC DRUGWIPE 3 S as a device for preliminary oral fluid testing under the state's Road Traffic Act 1974.
What happened
On July 31, 2026, the Road Traffic (Preliminary Oral Fluid Testing Device) Notice 2026 was published, officially approving the SECURETEC DRUGWIPE 3 S for use by WA Police. This approval, stemming from the Road Traffic Act 1974, means the device can now be deployed for roadside preliminary drug tests. While seemingly a minor administrative update, it represents a tangible expansion of law enforcement's capabilities to detect drug-affected drivers, building on previous expansions in roadside testing.
What this means for you
If you're a driver in WA, particularly one who might consume substances, this approval directly impacts your risk profile on the roads. The introduction of the SECURETEC DRUGWIPE 3 S means police have another validated tool to conduct roadside oral fluid tests. This could lead to more frequent or more comprehensive testing, potentially increasing the likelihood of detection for drug-impaired driving. For businesses with employees who drive, this signals a need to review and reinforce drug and alcohol policies to mitigate risks and ensure compliance, as the net for detection is widening. Journalists covering law enforcement or road safety will find this a solid lead for stories on policing methods and public safety.
Want to follow this thread yourself? Search GovScanner's free dashboard, or connect GovScanner to your favourite AI so your model can explore WA government data for you.
What this means for WA
This approval signals the Cook Labor Government's continued commitment to road safety through enhanced enforcement. It follows earlier moves to expand drug testing, including the addition of cocaine to roadside tests, as highlighted in previous GovScanner stories. The consistent rollout of new testing technologies suggests a trend towards more sophisticated and widespread roadside drug detection. This could lead to a reduction in drug-related road incidents, but also raises ongoing discussions about the balance between public safety and individual privacy, particularly as testing capabilities evolve. The Hansard records show ongoing parliamentary interest in driver impairment testing and funding, reinforcing this as a priority area.
The numbers
The primary signal is the Road Traffic (Preliminary Oral Fluid Testing Device) Notice 2026, published on July 31, 2026, which formally approves the SECURETEC DRUGWIPE 3 S. This isn't an isolated incident; other similar gazette entries include the approval of the SECURETEC DRUGSWIPE 3 S and the SECURETEC DRUGWIPE 3 S COMBO, indicating a pattern of adopting multiple variations of the same technology. This multi-device approval strategy suggests a robust and flexible approach to police roadside testing, ensuring broad operational capability. The underlying legislative authority for these approvals is the Road Traffic Act 1974, demonstrating a clear legal framework for these enforcement tools.
Find your own data
Want to explore this thread yourself? Search the free GovScanner dashboard, or connect GovScanner directly to your favourite AI so your model can investigate WA government data for you. It is quick to connect, and it gives your AI raw access to structured WA government records instead of making it hunt through PDFs and webpages from scratch.