36.A “fixed monetary penalty” is a requirement to pay to an enforcement authority a penalty of an amount specified in the regulations. The maximum penalty that may be imposed is £5,000. Regulations may only confer a power to impose a fixed monetary penalty where the enforcement authority is satisfied on the balance of probabilities that the breach has occurred.
37.Paragraph 3 of Schedule A1 sets out the procedure for imposing fixed monetary penalties including the issue of a notice of intent, an opportunity to discharge the liability, the process of making representations and objections, a final notice, the appeals process for the person on whom the fixed monetary penalty has been imposed and the grounds of appeal.
38.The regulations should also specify the circumstances in which an enforcement authority may not decide to impose a fixed monetary penalty for example for exceptional operational reasons such as inclement weather, vehicle failure, or an emergency where pupils may not otherwise be able to get home.