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Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988
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Changes over time for: Section 53
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Changes to legislation:
Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988, Section
53 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 30 December 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
Changes to Legislation
Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.
Changes and effects yet to be applied to Section 53:
- s. 24(A2)(ca)-(ce) inserted by 2024 c. 10 Sch. 3 para. 2(2)(a)(ii)
- s. 29(2A) inserted by 2006 c. 49 s. 34(2)
- s. 30A-30D inserted by 2006 c. 49 s. 34(3)
- s. 34A(7A) inserted by 2009 c. 25 Sch. 21 para. 90(3)(d)
- s. 34B(12) added by 2009 c. 25 Sch. 21 para. 90(4)(c)
- s. 34D-34G inserted by 2006 c. 49 s. 15(1)
- s. 34D(1)(d) words inserted by 2009 c. 25 Sch. 21 para. 90(5)(a)
- s. 34D(3) words inserted by 2009 c. 25 Sch. 21 para. 90(5)(b)
- s. 34D(5A) inserted by 2009 c. 25 Sch. 21 para. 90(5)(c)
- s. 34D(6)(a) words substituted by 2009 c. 25 Sch. 21 para. 90(5)(d)(i)
- s. 34D(6)(b) words substituted by 2009 c. 25 Sch. 21 para. 90(5)(d)(ii)
- s. 34D(6A) inserted by 2009 c. 25 Sch. 21 para. 90(5)(e)
- s. 36(13A) inserted by 2006 c. 49 s. 37(6)
- s. 41B inserted by 2006 c. 49 s. 15(2)
- s. 53(3) inserted by 2004 c. 28 s. 16(2)
- s. 84(1) s. 84 renumbered as s. 84(1) by 2004 c. 28 s. 16(3)
- s. 84(2) (3) inserted by 2004 c. 28 s. 16(3)
- Sch. 1 para. 3(aa) inserted by 2006 c. 49 s. 15(3)(a)
- Sch. 1 para. 4(za) inserted by 2006 c. 49 s. 15(3)(b)
- Sch. 1 para. 1A(c)(d) and word inserted by 2024 c. 10 Sch. 4 para. 1(2)(b)
- Sch. 1 para. 3(bc) inserted by 2024 c. 10 Sch. 4 para. 1(2)(c)
- Sch. 1 para. 4(ab) inserted by 2024 c. 10 Sch. 4 para. 1(2)(d)
Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Act associated Parts and Chapters:
Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):
- s. 24(A2)(ca)-(ce) inserted by 2024 c. 10 Sch. 3 para. 2(2)(a)(ii)
- s. 29(2A) inserted by 2006 c. 49 s. 34(2)
- s. 30A-30D inserted by 2006 c. 49 s. 34(3)
- s. 34A(7A) inserted by 2009 c. 25 Sch. 21 para. 90(3)(d)
- s. 34B(12) added by 2009 c. 25 Sch. 21 para. 90(4)(c)
- s. 34D-34G inserted by 2006 c. 49 s. 15(1)
- s. 34D(1)(d) words inserted by 2009 c. 25 Sch. 21 para. 90(5)(a)
- s. 34D(3) words inserted by 2009 c. 25 Sch. 21 para. 90(5)(b)
- s. 34D(5A) inserted by 2009 c. 25 Sch. 21 para. 90(5)(c)
- s. 34D(6)(a) words substituted by 2009 c. 25 Sch. 21 para. 90(5)(d)(i)
- s. 34D(6)(b) words substituted by 2009 c. 25 Sch. 21 para. 90(5)(d)(ii)
- s. 34D(6A) inserted by 2009 c. 25 Sch. 21 para. 90(5)(e)
- s. 36(13A) inserted by 2006 c. 49 s. 37(6)
- s. 41B inserted by 2006 c. 49 s. 15(2)
- s. 84(1) s. 84 renumbered as s. 84(1) by 2004 c. 28 s. 16(3)
- s. 84(2) (3) inserted by 2004 c. 28 s. 16(3)
- Sch. 1 para. 3(aa) inserted by 2006 c. 49 s. 15(3)(a)
- Sch. 1 para. 4(za) inserted by 2006 c. 49 s. 15(3)(b)
- Sch. 1 para. 1A(c)(d) and word inserted by 2024 c. 10 Sch. 4 para. 1(2)(b)
- Sch. 1 para. 3(bc) inserted by 2024 c. 10 Sch. 4 para. 1(2)(c)
- Sch. 1 para. 4(ab) inserted by 2024 c. 10 Sch. 4 para. 1(2)(d)
F1[53Amount of fixed penalty.E+W+S
(1)The fixed penalty for an offence is—
(a)such amount as the Secretary of State may by order prescribe, or
(b)one half of the maximum amount of the fine to which a person committing that offence would be liable on summary conviction [F2or, where there is no such maximum amount, the amount corresponding to level 4 on the standard scale for summary offences],
whichever is the less.
[F3(2)Any order made under subsection (1)(a) above in relation to an offence may make provision for the fixed penalty for the offence to be different depending on the circumstances, including (in particular)—
(a)the nature of the contravention or failure constituting the offence,
(b)how serious it is,
(c)the area, or sort of place, where it takes place, and
(d)whether the offender appears to have committed any offence or offences of a description specified in the order during a period so specified.]]
Textual Amendments
F1S. 53 substituted (1.4.1992) by Road Traffic Act 1991 (c. 40, SIF 107:1), s. 48, Sch. 4 para.102; S.I. 1992/199, arts. 3(2)(b), 4; but see S.I.1992/435 for an expressed substitution (S.) (1.4.1992) of penalties in the previous form of s. 53
F2Words in s. 53(1)(b) inserted (E.W.) (12.3.2015) by The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (Fines on Summary Conviction) Regulations 2015 (S.I. 2015/664), reg. 1(1), Sch. 5 para. 5 (with reg. 5(1))
F3S. 53(2) substituted (5.1.2009) by Road Safety Act 2006 (c. 49), ss. 3(2), 61(1)(10) (with s. 61(3)); S.I. 2008/3164, art. 2(a)
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