http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1996/37/section/8Noise Act 1996 An Act to make provision about noise emitted from dwellings at night; about the forfeiture and confiscation of equipment used to make noise unlawfully; and for connected purposes.1996-07-18texttext/xmlenStatute Law Database2024-05-17Expert Participation2015-04-01 81Where an officer of a local authority who is authorised for the purposes of this section has reason to believe that a person is committing or has just committed an offence under section 4 or 4A, he may give that person a notice (referred to in this Act as a “fixed penalty notice”) offering him the opportunity of discharging any liability to conviction for that offence by payment of a fixed penalty.2A fixed penalty notice may be given to a person—aby delivering the notice to him, orbif it is not reasonably practicable to deliver it to him, by leaving the notice, addressed to him, at the offending dwelling or the offending premises (as the case may be) .3Where a person is given a fixed penalty notice in respect of such an offence—aproceedings for that offence must not be instituted before the end of the period of fourteen days following the date of the notice, andbhe cannot be convicted of that offence if he pays the fixed penalty before the end of that period.4A fixed penalty notice must give such particulars of the circumstances alleged to constitute the offence as are necessary for giving reasonable information of the offence.5A fixed penalty notice must state—athe period during which, because of subsection (3)(a), proceedings will not be taken for the offence,bthe amount of the fixed penalty, andcthe person to whom and the address at which the fixed penalty may be paid.6Payment of the fixed penalty may (among other methods) be made by pre-paying and posting to that person at that address a letter containing the amount of the penalty (in cash or otherwise).7Where a letter containing the amount of the penalty is sent in accordance with subsection (6), payment is to be regarded as having been made at the time at which that letter would be delivered in the ordinary course of post.8. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .S. 8 wholly in force at 1.9.1997; s. 8 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 14(2); s. 8 in force at 23.7.1997 for England and Wales by S.I. 1997/1695, art. 2 and 1.9.1997 for Northern Ireland by S.R. 1997/366, art. 2In its application to Northern Ireland, this section has effect subject to the modifications set out in s. 14; see 14(4)S. 8(8) repealed (E.W.) (16.3.2006 for W. for specified purposes, 6.4.2006 for E., 15.3.2007 (being the date on which S.I. 2007/739 came into force) for W. in so far as not already in force) by Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 (c. 16), ss. 82(1), 108(1), (2), Sch. 5 Pt. 7; S.I. 2006/768, art. 3; S.I. 2006/795, art. 2(3), Sch. 2; S.I. 2006/2797, art. 4(jj); s. 8(8) repealed (N.I.) (18.1.2012 for specified purposes, 1.4.2012 in so far as not already in force) by Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 (c. 23), ss. 61(1), 78, Sch. 4 Pt. 4; S.R. 2012/13, art. 2(1), Sch. 1Sch. 2Words in s. 8(1) inserted (E.W.) (1.10.2006 for E., 15.3.2007 (being the date on which S.I. 2007/739 came into force) for W.) by Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 (c. 16), s. 108(1)(2), Sch. 1 para. 10(2); S.I. 2006/2006, art. 2; S.I. 2006/2797, art. 4(kk) and words in s. 8(1) inserted (N.I.) (1.4.2012) by Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 (c. 23), s. 78, Sch. 1 para. 10(2); S.R. 2012/13, art. 2(2), Sch. 2Words in s. 8(2)(b) inserted (E.W.) (1.10.2006 for E., 15.3.2007 (being the date on which S.I. 2007/739 came into force) for W.) by Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 (c. 16), s. 108(1)(2), Sch. 1 para. 10(3); S.I. 2006/2006, art. 2; S.I. 2006/2797, art. 4(kk) and words in s. 8(2)(b) inserted (N.I.) (1.4.2012) by Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 (c. 23), s. 78, Sch. 1 para. 10(3); S.R. 2012/13, art. 2(2), Sch. 2