Recovery of fines
24.—(1) Where a fine is imposed by a magistrates' court on a person in charge of a fishing boat who is convicted by the court of an offence under this Order or any equivalent provision, the court may –
(a)issue a warrant of distress against the boat involved in the commission of the offence and its fishing gear and catch and any property of the person convicted for the purpose of levying the amount of the fine; and
(b)order the boat and its gear and catch to be detained for a period not exceeding three months from the date of conviction or until the fine is paid or the amount of the fine is levied in pursuance of any such warrant, whichever occurs first.
(2) Articles 114(2) and 154 of the Magistrates Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981(1) (postponement of certain warrants and objections as to want of form or variance between complaint etc and evidence adduced) shall apply to a warrant of distress issued under this Article as they apply to a warrant referred to in those Articles of that Order.
(3) Where, in relation to an offence under this Order or under any equivalent provision a court orders under section 90 of the Magistrates Court Act 1980(2) or section 222 of the Criminal Procedures (Scotland) Act 1995(3) that a fine shall be enforceable in a petty sessions district in Northern Ireland specified in the court’s order, paragraphs (1) and (2) shall apply as if the fine were imposed by a court within that petty sessions district.