A magistrate has praised a Pomonal woman for turning her life around after having her licence disqualified for two years for a string of drug-driving charges.
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Carla Taylor, 35, pleaded guilty at Horsham Magistrate's Court on Monday to charges relating to three separate drug-driving incidents across five months.
Ms Taylor was first stopped by police on Pomonal Road in February 2019 for a routine check, where a roadside fluid test showed traces of methamphetamine.
The court heard Ms Taylor refused police's requests for her to take another oral fluid test, despite being told it was an offence not to comply.
A month later, on March 13, Ms Taylor was stopped by police in Horsham for a routine check, where she was again found to have methamphetamine in her system.
On June 7, Ms Taylor refused to take an oral fluid test after being intercepted by police on Urquhart Street, Horsham. She was driving an unregistered vehicle at the time.
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Ms Taylor told the court she had been addicted to ice for more than 20 years and the last offence "kickstarted her getting her life back together".
She said she had been sober for six months and was tackling her addiction "day by day".
The court heard Ms Taylor had since found stable accomodation and when tempted to return to drug use, she would instead spend that money on clothes or "something she could see and benefit from."
In his judgement, Magistrate Simon Zebrowski praised Ms Taylor for her commitment to staying sober.
"The good news is you struggled for a long time, but now you're off it," he said.
"You know what an achievement that is better than I do. You ought to feel happy for yourself. You should be proud of it.
"Every day you're off it, enjoy it. It's a significant achievement."
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Ms Taylor was fined $800 and had her licence disqualified for the minimum cumulative period of 2 years.
"I see no reason to extend it because there were no aggravating factors. They were random tests; you weren't speeding or driving recklessly or anything," Mr Zebrowski said.
"I'm keeping (the fine) down because I don't want to crush you with it, and put any further hurdles in your way."
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