Sharyn Scandolera, 47, of Simpson Street, pleaded guilty in Warrnambool Magistrates Court to drug driving and failing to appear in court.

On October 18 she was intercepted by police driving on Warrnambool's Timor Street about 3pm.

She tested positive to cannabis and methamphetamine.

She told police she had smoked cannabis that morning and was driving to pick someone up from court.

Scandolera was charged with drug driving and summonsed to appear in court at a later date.

But she failed to appear on two occasions and a warrant was issued for her arrest.

She was arrested on Monday morning and appeared in court later that day.

Lawyer Jack Rabl said Scandolera suffered depression and at the time of the offending, was self-medicating with illicit substances.

He said she attended court on March 3 but felt distressed and left before her matter was called.

Magistrate Mark Stratmann said he understood court was often a distressing experience.

"I don't want to see you back here," he said.

"It's a serious matter to drive a motor vehicle with those substances in your system. You're approaching mid-life.

"You had a (cannabis) problem late last year, I hope you're on top of that now."

Scandolera was fined $1200 and her licence was cancelled for the minimum mandatory period - six months.

Last year Warrnambool earnt itself the unenviable title of having the fourth highest number of drug drivers in 2018.

Police nabbed 64 people for the offence, putting the city behind only three other cities - Wodonga, where 88 people were charged with the offence, Frankston, 67, and Melton, 66.

Earlier this year Victoria Police announced it would carry out an extra 1000 drug tests per week in 2019, totalling 150,000 tests on state roads for the year.

Have you signed up to The Standard's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in the south-west.