Kirri Argus: Maroubra woman caught riding scooter while high on ice, weed

A Maroubra woman has been busted riding an electric scooter while high and unlicensed, in what a magistrate has described as “an unusual set of offending”.

A Maroubra woman has been caught cruising down to the shops on an electric scooter without a licence, while high on ice and THC.

According to facts tendered to Waverley Local Court, 34-year-old Kirri Argus was riding to the shops on a Mearth branded scooter in Maroubra, when police stopped her.

Argus had been travelling on a footpath next to Malabar Rd towards police about 10:45am on November 3, 2021.

Kirri Argus, 34, was caught riding towards police on an electric scooter while high

The facts state officers asked her to show her driver’s licence, to which she said she doesn’t have one. Checks showed she had never held a licence in Australia.

After returning a negative roadside test, an oral fluid test returned a positive result of cannabis and ice.

The facts state a forensic analysis of the oral fluid returned a positive result to ice and THC, the main ingredient in cannabis which produces the high sensation.

“In relation to the taking of drugs, the accused stated (she consumed the substances) ‘most nights’,” the facts read.

Argus’ defence lawyer told Waverley Local Court her client was a single mother supporting an eight-year-old son in public housing, and she thought riding the electric scooter was legal.

Magistrate Jacqueline Milledge told the court it was “misleading” because Kmart and Big W sell scooters but the onus is on the buyer to do the research and determine whether a licence was needed.

“It is an unusual set of offending as it’s a scooter but it’s illegal and it’s riding on the footpath, which is a concern in and of itself,” Magistrate Milledge said.

“The issue of members of public on footpath all comes into play.”

The court heard no-one else was on the footpath at the time of the crime.

According to the agreed facts, the electric scooter was defined as a motorcycle because it had an engine which propelled the vehicle and has two wheels.

Argus pleaded guilty to drive motor vehicle with illicit drugs present and never licenced person drive vehicle on road.

She was given a six-month conditional release order with a requirement she abstain from illicit drugs.