Monique Jane Mitchell caught driving on meth again, this time with 8yo kid in the car

One day after police were given new powers to target drug drives, a P-plater has fronted court after being caught driving on meth with her eight-year-old kid in the car.

A P-plater has lost her job at a dairy farm after she was caught drug driving with an eight-year-old child in the car, a court has heard.

This is the second time Monique Jane Mitchell, 26, has faced drug driving charges — with the P-plater previously receiving a six-month loss of licence in 2019.

Mitchell was pulled over by police on Tuesday, November 29 at around 2.30pm along Penola Rd and testing positive to methamphetamine.

A police prosecutor told the Mount Gambier Magistrates Court Mitchell admitted to the drug use — telling officers she had consumed MDMA tablets over the weekend.

Mitchell was unrepresented when she pleaded guilty to driving with methamphetamine with a child under 16 present and contravening a condition of a provisional licence.

Monique Jane Mitchell has pleaded guilty to drug driving while an 8yo child was in the car. Picture: Supplied

Magistrate Koula Kossiavelous said Mitchell should consider “counselling” to tackle her drug problems, a court has heard.

The Mount Gambier woman was handed a 12-month loss of licence and given a $1100 fine.

It comes as the state government gave police new powers to target drug drivers, in a bid to crack down on dangerous driving on Monday.

Drivers will now be slapped with an immediate loss of licence if caught with drugs in their system.

Previously those who tested positive to an illicit substance would be handed either a fine or a court summons, which may result in a loss of licence.

New data released by police show that 20 per cent of those killed on South Australian roads last year had prescribed drugs – including MDMA, methylamphetamine and cannabis – in their system.

Police assistant commissioner Ian Parrott said last year more than 5500 people were caught drug driving.

The new laws come after 18 lives have been lost on South Australian roads so far this year in comparison to four at the same time last year.

Mr Parrott said this year’s road toll was the worst start to a year in 10 years.