Dumping At Sea Act, 1981

Penalties.

8.—(1) A person guilty of an offence under section 2 of this Act shall be liable, on conviction on indictment, to a fine or, at the discretion of the court, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or to both the fine and the imprisonment.

(2) A Justice of the District Court shall have jurisdiction to try summarily an offence under the said section 2 if—

(a) the Justice is of opinion that the facts proved or alleged against a defendant charged with such an offence constitute a minor offence fit to be tried summarily,

(b) the Director of Public Prosecutions consents, and

(c) the defendant (on being informed by the Justice of his right to be tried by a jury) does not object to being tried summarily,

and, upon conviction under this subsection, the said defendant shall be liable to a fine not exceeding £500 or, at the discretion of the court, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both the fine and the imprisonment.

(3) Section 13 of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1967 , shall apply in relation to an offence under the said section 2 as if, in lieu of the penalties specified in subsection (3) of the said section 13, there were specified therein the penalty provided for by subsection (2) of this section, and the reference in subsection (2) (a) of the said section 13 to the penalties provided for in the said subsection (3) shall be construed and have effect accordingly.

(4) A person guilty of an offence under this Act (other than section 2 of this Act) shall be liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding £500 or, at the discretion of the court, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both the fine and the imprisonment.