Interpretation and General Clauses Act · s 39

Suggest a correction

Tell us what is wrong in this text. We check every suggestion against the official version before we change anything.

What is wrong?Wrong or mistyped wordsWrong structure or numberingWrong title or detailsText that appears twice

What should change, and whyUp to 2,000 characters.The text as it should read (optional)Edit the text above. Up to 20,000 characters.Where you checked it (optional)A link to the official version, if you have one.

The text as we hold it

Open the official text

s 39Penalties prescribed to be maximum penalties

Whenever, in or by virtue of any written law, a penalty, whether of imprisonment or fine, is prescribed for an offence the penalty shall imply —

(a)

that the offence shall be punishable upon conviction by a penalty not exceeding the penalty prescribed; and

(b)

if the amount of the fine is unspecified, that the offence shall, without prejudice to any provision of law against excessive and unreasonable fines and assessments, be punishable by a fine of any amount.