Douglas Police have widened their search for a man that inexplicably fled a traffic stop on Port Douglas Road on Monday afternoon and his female associate. 

Sergeant Damian Meadows told Newsport that a wider net was being cast for the pair, who were known to have 'connections to the Cairns area and southeast Queensland'. 

"We are now definitely searching further afield for these two," Sergeant Meadows said. 

"Inquiries are being conducted in other locations as we speak."

The man had fled from a red hatchback after a routine traffic stop by a police patrol motorbike, running across Port Douglas Road and disappearing into foliage in the Sheraton grounds at about 2pm on Monday. 

The man is described as Caucasian, 180cm tall with short dark hair and wearing a black t-shirt, khaki threequarter length trousers and no shoes. 

The female associate is described as 22 years of age with a thin build with shoulder-length silver-blonde hair, wearing a light-coloured top and blue jeans. 

She was last seen at ANZAC Park at about 6:45 on Monday. 

Sergeant Meadows said it was still unclear as to why the man bolted from the traffic stop but added it was obvious he wished to avoid police attention. 

"His actions obviously lead police to believe that he is involved in some kind of criminal activity," he said. 

Police have advised anyone who sees people matching these descriptions to call either 000 or the Port Douglas station on 4087 1999. 

A woman left behind in the car by the male fugitive was being interviewed by police but was not restrained when NewsPort was at the scene at about 2:30pm.

She is not believed to be the woman that police are currently searching for.