Editing Fine (penalty) (section)

===England and Wales===
{{see also|English criminal law#General power to impose a fine on indictment}}
In the [[Magistrates' Courts Act 1980]], unless the context otherwise requires, the expression "fine", except for any enactment imposing a limit on the amount of any fine, includes any pecuniary penalty or pecuniary forfeiture or pecuniary compensation payable under a conviction.<ref>The [[Magistrates' Courts Act 1980]], [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1980/43/section/150 section 150(1)]</ref>

In section 32 of that Act, the expression "fine" includes a pecuniary penalty but does not include a pecuniary forfeiture or pecuniary compensation.<ref>The [[Magistrates' Courts Act 1980]], [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1980/43/section/32 section 32(9)]</ref>

In sections 15 to 32 and 48 of the [[Criminal Law Act 1977]], the expression "fine" includes any pecuniary penalty.<ref>The [[Criminal Law Act 1977]], [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1977/45/section/65 section 65(2)] (as amended by [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1980/43/schedule/7/paragraph/153 paragraph 153] of Schedule 7 to the [[Magistrates' Courts Act 1980]]). This definition previously applied to section 14 of the Criminal Law Act 1977 before it was repealed by the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980.</ref>

In England, there is now a system whereby the court gives the offender a 'fine card', which is somewhat like a [[credit card]]; at any shop that has a paying-in machine, he pays the value of the fine to the shop, which then uses the fine card to pass that money on to the court's [[bank account]].

A related concept is the [[fixed penalty notice]], a pecuniary penalty for some minor crimes that can be either accepted (instead of prosecution, thus saving time and paperwork) or taken to court for regular proceedings for that crime. While technically not a fine, which, under the [[Bill of Rights 1689]], may be levied only following a conviction, it serves the same purpose of punishment.

Early examples of fines include the [[weregild]] or [[Blood money (term)|blood money]] payable under [[Anglo-Saxons|Anglo-Saxon]] [[common law]] for causing a death. The murderer would be expected to pay a sum of money or goods dependent on the victim's social status.