Christine Lee Hughes pleaded guilty at the Ballarat Magistrates' Court on Monday to failing an oral fluid test, driving an unregistered car and failing to attend court.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Steve Repac said police intercepted Hughes driving on Gillies Street in Wendouree around 1.30am on May 12, 2019 for a random licence check.

Analysis of an oral fluid test indicated the presence of methamphetamine and cannabis in her oral fluid.

The court heard the car she was driving was unregistered.

Representing herself at court, Hughes said she had a couple of joints at a friend's house and drove an hour later.

"I knew it would still be in my system, I shouldn't have driven," she said.

"I was hungry and thirsty and there was no food at my friend's house."

Hughes said it was a surprise the oral fluid test showed the presence of methamphetamine as she had not used it since 2016.

When asked why she did not appear at court in February, the Clunes resident said she did not have the court date in her phone and had no excuse.

Magistrate Jonathan Klestadt said while Hughes may not have felt she was affected by drugs, the number of road fatalities caused by drug drivers showed her judgement was wrong.

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"You put your life and the life of others in the community at risk by driving with drugs in your system," he said.

Mr Klestadt said he was not surprised Hughes' oral fluid test analysis showed the presence of methamphetamine, as drug dealers were known to mix substances.

"Unless you can get your drug use under control, you will be back before the courts and not driving," he said.

Hughes was convicted and fined $1500. Her licence was cancelled for the minimum mandatory period of six months.