Legal Definitions - civil penalties

Definition: Civil penalties are fines or additional charges imposed by a government agency to enforce regulations. These penalties are usually imposed for actions such as late payment of taxes, failure to obtain a permit, or violating other laws or regulations.

Examples:

• Failure to pay taxes on time can result in civil penalties.
• Not obtaining a permit for a construction project can lead to civil penalties.
• Violating environmental regulations can result in civil penalties.

These examples illustrate how civil penalties are imposed by a government agency to enforce regulations. If someone fails to pay taxes on time, they may be charged a civil penalty to encourage them to pay on time in the future. Similarly, if someone violates environmental regulations, they may be charged a civil penalty to discourage them from doing so again.