An off-duty volunteer firefighter caught driving after consuming an 'edible' drug has told the court losing her licence could impact her ability to help during the forthcoming fire season.
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Kerry Harrington, 58, of Batehaven, pleaded guilty to driving with an illicit drug in her system when she appeared in Yass Local Court on Friday July 12.
Harrington was stopped by Hume Police District officers as she drove through Gundaroo on Saturday February 23, about 5.15pm, the court was told.
Police asked Harrington to take an oral fluid test, which returned positive for cannabis.
Harrington told police she had consumed an "edible".
In court, Harrington's solicitor said her client had trouble sleeping and thought the drug would be out of her system by the time she was due to drive from Batehaven to Murrumbateman that Saturday.
The solicitor said Harrington was concerned about her ability to volunteer during the forthcoming fire season if she lost her driver licence.
Harrington is a volunteer with the Rural Fire Service and helps with community engagement.
"She recently received an award from the RFS," the solicitor said.
Harrington also volunteers with Pets in the Park in the ACT once a month, which was the reason she had travelled to Murrumbateman, the solicitor said.
But Magistrate Douglass warned Harrington of the risks of drug-driving: "You don't know how strong the cannabis you've taken is."
Magistrate Douglass acknowledged Harrington was "a decent person" with "a great need for a licence", but disqualified her from driving for three months and fined her $600.
