DRIVERS are dodging bans by telling soft-touch courts they use Motability cars.
A string of offenders swerved disqualification by pleading they needed their taxpayer-funded motors to get around.
Labour peer Lord Mann slammed the shock findings and called for reform of the controversial car scheme.
Sun on Sunday analysis of court cases in the past six months suggests more than a dozen drivers avoided a ban after bringing up their involvement in the scheme.
Motability leases vehicles to those on PIP benefits and deemed to have a long-term physical or mental health condition. In July Thomas Alcock, 18, was caught doing 107mph in a 70mph zone.
He told Lincoln magistrates his Seat Ibiza was a Motability car and got five penalty points and a £216 fine.
The court records state: “Imposed less penalty points as exceptional circumstances as clean driving record and disability.
Magistrates took into account the Motability vehicle.” Billie-Jo Morris, 28, was caught speeding in a £50,000 Mercedes on the M6 toll road in Staffs.
She insisted that she was the main driver of her uncle’s Motability car.
JPs ruled exceptional hardship and she got a £40 fine and three points.
In August Eshrat Katiraie, 56, was spared a six-month ban despite totting up 12 points after using a mobile phone at the wheel of her taxpayer-funded Toyota.
Court notes show that she required “regular attendance at medical appointments” in Nottingham.
Lord Mann said: “There should be no preferential treatment to any driver, and that includes Motability. Any abuses undermine it.”
Motability Operations said: “We have no involvement in legal proceedings. We expect all users to drive in accordance with the law.”
