Criminal Justice Act 1988

51 Statutory maximum as penalty on summary conviction for offences triable either way in subordinate legislation. E+W

(1) For any offence triable either way under a subordinate instrument made before the commencement of this section, the maximum fine which may be imposed on summary conviction shall by virtue of this subsection be the statutory maximum unless the offence is one for which by virtue of the instrument a larger maximum fine may be imposed on summary conviction.

(2) Where apart from this section the maximum fine would be one amount in the case of a first conviction and a different amount in the case of a second or subsequent conviction, subsection (1) above shall apply irrespective of whether the conviction is a first, second or subsequent one.

(3) Subsection (1) above shall not affect so much of any instrument as (in whatever words) makes a person liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding a specified amount for each period of a specified length during which a continuing offence is continued after conviction or the occurrence of any other specified event.

(4) Where there is under any enactment (however framed or worded) contained in an Act passed before the commencement of this section a power by subordinate instrument to impose penal provisions, being a power which allows the creation of offences triable either way, the maximum fine which may in the exercise of that power be authorised on summary conviction in respect of an offence triable either way shall by virtue of this subsection be the statutory maximum unless some larger maximum fine can be authorised on summary conviction of such an offence by virtue of an enactment contained in an Act passed before the commencement of this section.

(5) Where there is under any enactment (however framed or worded) contained in an Act passed before the commencement of this section a power by subordinate instrument to create offences triable either way, the maximum fine for an offence triable either way so created may be expressed as a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum.

(6) Subsection (5) above has effect in relation to exercises of powers before as well as after the commencement of this section.

(7) Nothing in this section shall affect the punishment for an offence committed before the commencement of this section.

(8) In this section and sections 52, 53, 55, 57 and 59 below “fine” includes a pecuniary penalty but does not include a pecuniary forfeiture or pecuniary compensation.