A Shetland woman escaped a driving ban after convincing a court that she needed her licence for transporting her child to hospital and medical appointments.
Joanne Mackay, of Blydoit, East Voe, Scalloway had previously admitted driving with no insurance on the B9074 at East Voe on February 2.
The 37-year-old already had eight penalty points on her licence, meaning she would be disqualified if she reached 12 under the totting-up procedure.
Mackay’s defence called for a special hearing at Lerwick Sheriff Court to consider evidence of exceptional hardship in a bid to avoid disqualification.
She explained that she regularly drives her son, who has the blood condition hemophilia, to hospital for appointments, as well as to Sumburgh Airport for flights to the Scottish mainland for medical trips.
Mackay, whose partner was unable to drive due to disqualification, said the bus timetable did not fit in with her son’s appointments and added that no family members were able to help her out due to work commitments.
Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie questioned if she had looked into public transport thoroughly enough, and pondered if her son’s early morning blood tests could be carried out closer to home in Scalloway.
Sheriff Gordon Fleetwood was persuaded by defence agent Tommy Allan’s case, however, saying that the child’s welfare was key due to the serious nature of his condition.
He fined Mackay £400 and gave her six penalty points, but did not disqualify her.
However, the sheriff warned the woman that the exceptional hardship hearing only works once and that one more motoring offence would result in a driving ban.