From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Standard Scale is a system whereby financial criminal penalties (fines) in legislation have maximum levels set against a standard scale. Then, when inflation makes it necessary to increase the levels of the fines the legislators need to modify only the scale rather than each individual piece of legislation.
In English law, the reference in legislation will appear like so: "...liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale, or both." (c.f. Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 2004, s.61)
[edit] Legislation
- England & Wales: Section 17 of Criminal Justice Act 1991
- Scotland: Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995
- Northern Ireland: Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 1994
- Jersey: The Criminal Justice (Standard Scale of Fines) (Jersey) Law 1993
- Guernsey: The Uniform Scale of Fines (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law 1989
- Zimbabwe: The Criminal Penalties Amendment Act 2001
- Hong Kong Chapter 221 Criminal Procedure Ordinance section 113C Provision for fines for offences
[edit] Current Levels of Fines
UK (as of 2005)
| Level on the scale |
Amount of fine |
| 1 |
£200 |
| 2 |
£500 |
| 3 |
£1,000 |
| 4 |
£2,500 |
| 5 |
£5,000 |
Hong Kong (as of 2006)
| Level on the scale |
Amount of fine |
| 1 |
HK$1 to $2,000 |
| 2 |
$2,001 to $5,000 |
| 3 |
$5,001 to $10,000 |
| 4 |
$10,001 to $25,000 |
| 5 |
$25,001 to $50,000 |
| 6 |
$50,01 to $100,000 |
