The Dogs (Northern Ireland) Order 1983

Procedure N.I.

36.—(1) Where an officer finds a person on any occasion and has reason to believe that on that occasion he is committing or has committed an offence to which this Article and Articles 37 to 39 apply he may give that person a notice in writing offering the opportunity of the discharge of any liability to conviction of that offence by payment of a fixed penalty under Article 37.

(2) A person to whom a notice is given under this Article in respect of an offence shall not be liable to be convicted of that offence if the fixed penalty is paid in accordance with Article 37 before the expiration of 14 days following the date of the notice or such longer period, if any, as may be specified in the notice.

(3) Where a person is given a notice under this Article in respect of an offence proceedings shall not be taken against any person for that offence until the end of the 14 days following the date of the notice or such longer period, if any, as may have been specified in the notice.

(4) A notice under this Article shall be in such form as may be prescribed and shall give such particulars of the circumstances alleged to constitute the offence as are necessary for giving reasonable information of the offence and shall state—

(a) the period during which, by virtue of paragraph (3), proceedings will not be taken for the offence;

(b) the amount of the fixed penalty; and

(c) the person to whom and the address at which the fixed penalty may be paid.

(5) In this Article “proceedings” means any criminal proceedings in respect of the act constituting the offence specified in the notice under this Article, and “convicted” shall be construed in like manner.