The Street Works (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2007

Article 24.

SCHEDULE 2 SCHEDULE 2A TO THE 1995 ORDER

“SCHEDULE 2A FIXED PENALTIES FOR CERTAIN OFFENCES

Power to give fixed penalty notices

1.— (1) An authorised officer of a street authority may, if he has reason to believe that a person is committing or has committed a fixed penalty offence, give him a fixed penalty notice in relation to that offence.

(2) In this Schedule “fixed penalty notice” means a notice offering a person the opportunity of discharging any liability to conviction for a fixed penalty offence by payment of a penalty.

2.   A fixed penalty notice for an offence may not be given after such time relating to the offence as may be prescribed.

Contents of fixed penalty notice

3.— (1) A fixed penalty notice must identify the offence to which it relates and give reasonable particulars of the circumstances alleged to constitute that offence.

(2) A fixed penalty notice must also state—

(a) the amount of the penalty and the period within which it may be paid;

(b) the discounted amount and the period within which it may be paid;

(c) the person to whom and the address at which payment may be made;

(d) the method or methods by which payment may be made;

(e) the person to whom and the address at which any representations relating to the notice may be addressed;

(f) the consequences of not making a payment within the period for payment.

(3) The person specified under sub-paragraph (2)(c) must be the street authority or a person acting on its behalf.

The amount of the penalty and the period for payment

4.— (1) The penalty for a fixed penalty offence is (subject to paragraph 5) such amount, not exceeding 30 per cent. of the maximum fine for that offence, as may be prescribed.

(2) The period for payment of the penalty is the period of 29 days beginning with the day on which the notice is given.

(3) The street authority may extend the period for paying the penalty in any particular case if the authority considers it appropriate to do so.

The discounted amount

5.— (1) A discounted amount is payable instead of the amount prescribed under paragraph 4(1) if payment is made before the end of the period of 15 days beginning with the day on which the notice is given.

(2) The discounted amount for a fixed penalty offence is such amount, not exceeding 25 per cent. of the maximum fine for the offence, as may be prescribed.

(3) If the last day of the period specified in sub-paragraph (1) does not fall on a working day, the period for payment of the discounted amount is extended until the end of the next working day.

Effect of notice and payment of penalty

6.— (1) This paragraph applies where a person is given a fixed penalty notice in respect of a fixed penalty offence.

(2) No proceedings for the offence may be commenced before the end of the period for payment of the penalty.

(3) No such proceedings may be commenced or continued if payment of the penalty is made before the end of that period or is accepted by the street authority after that time.

(4) Payment of the discounted amount only counts for the purposes of sub-paragraph (3) if it is made before the end of the period for payment of the discounted amount.

(5) In proceedings for the offence a certificate which—

(a) purports to be signed by or on behalf of the person having responsibility for the financial affairs of the street authority; and

(b) states that payment of an amount specified in the certificate was or was not received by a date so specified,

is evidence of the facts stated.

Power to withdraw notices

7.— (1) If the street authority considers that a fixed penalty notice which has been given ought not to have been given, it may give to the person to whom it was given a notice withdrawing the fixed penalty notice.

(2) Where a notice under sub-paragraph (1) is given—

(a) the authority shall repay any amount which has been paid by way of penalty in pursuance of the fixed penalty notice; and

(b) no proceedings shall be commenced or continued against that person for the offence in question.

(3) The street authority shall consider any representations made by or on behalf of the recipient of a fixed penalty notice and decide in all the circumstances whether to withdraw the notice.

General and supplementary

8.   The Department may, with the consent of the Department of Finance and Personnel, make regulations about—

(a) the application by street authorities (other than the Department) of fixed penalties paid under this Schedule;

(b) the keeping by such authorities of accounts, and the preparation and publication of statements of account, relating to fixed penalties paid under this Schedule.

9.   The Department may by regulations—

(a) prescribe circumstances in which fixed penalty notices may not be given;

(b) modify paragraph 4(2) or 5(1) so as to substitute a different period for the period for the time being specified there;

(c) prescribe the method or methods by which penalties may be paid.”.