Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 Explanatory Notes

Section 143: Fixed monetary penalties: procedure

415.This section specifies certain minimum requirements that must be included in any fixed monetary penalty regime. In particular, when imposing the penalty, the enforcing authority must issue a notice of intent to the person setting out the information specified in subsection (3) of this section, and provide the person with an opportunity to discharge his liability by payment of a prescribed sum which will be lower or equal to the amount of the penalty. If the sum is not paid, a person may make representations to the authority setting out the reasons why he does not think he was guilty of the offence. Having considered those representations, the authority will come to a decision on whether to impose a fixed monetary penalty (“final notice”) setting out the information specified in subsection (5). A person on whom a final notice is served has a right of appeal.

416.Subsection (6) provides that an order allowing an enforcement authority to impose fixed monetary penalties must provide for the grounds for appeal set out in that subsection.

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