PART V

CRIMINAL JURISDICTION AND PROCEDURE

Sums adjudged to be paid by a conviction

Power to impose fine in lieu of imprisonment
54
1
Without prejudice to any other enactment, where a magistrates' court has power to impose imprisonment for an offence and, apart from this Article, has not authority to impose a fine for that offence, the court may, subject to paragraph (2), instead of imposing a sentence of imprisonment impose a fine which—
a
for an offence punishable on conviction on indictment or on summary conviction, shall not exceed the prescribed sum within the meaning of Article 4 of the Fines and Penalties (Northern Ireland) Order 1984; and
b
for an offence punishable on summary conviction only, shall—
i
not exceed
level 3 on the standard scale
, and
ii
not be of such an amount as would subject the offender, in default of payment of the fine, to a longer term of imprisonment or detention than the term to which he is liable on conviction of the offence.
Para. (2) rep. by 1984 NI 3
1984 NI 3
1994 NI 15