PART V N.I.CRIMINAL JURISDICTION AND PROCEDURE

Sums adjudged to be paid by a conviction N.I.

Power to impose fine in lieu of imprisonment N.I.

54.—(1) Without prejudice to any other enactment, where a magistrates' court has power to impose imprisonment for [F1 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[F1 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[F2 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

F1 1984 NI 3

F2 1994 NI 15