And fishermans interpretation of the law, would exclude paramedic instant response motorbikes and cars, as they don't carry patients, but
I believe they meet the criteria of Ambulance 'purposes'.
Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service have a liveried blue light motorbike.
I believe an earliest report to control of what type and how many applliances are required would come under Fire 'Purposes'
I have a close friend who is an FME, his attendance a Police Stations has very occasionally saved a life, i.e. blue light ambulance called to the Custody Suite to take 'prisoner' to Hospital. He's again (once IIRC) attended 'deaths' only to find signs of life
. His tardy attendance could have led to catastrophic consequences, hence he drives as he thinks conditions allow, safe but swift.
My belief is, under both Police and probably Ambulance 'purposes' he has exemption.
The OP was carrying out the most basic 'purpose' of an ambulance i.e. taking a patient to hospital.
I reckon the mistake made was to place the importance of a work commitment above attending Court in person.
To appeal the sentence would probably cost more than any reduction in fine, I don't believe an appeal could reduce the points, as 'special reason' could not be used as S.87 amounts to a defence and special reason cannot apply if the 'reason' would/could be a defence.
After a Guilty plea, I don't think a reopening is possible without massive hassle, expense and good luck,
I don't know so this is a guess but maybe Judicial Review.
It depends how much value the OP values the scrubbing of 3 points.
With a young family, I regret to say, that this one should go down to experience.
Any reader in a similar position, should plead not guilty and go to trial, if found guilty,
then plead 'special reason', as if found guilty the defence case presented was not a 'defence', but could be a 'special reason'
IMHO
fatboytim