Fixed penalty, also known as a fine, is an amount of money that is imposed as punishment for a particular offence. There are many synonyms for fixed penalty, including penalty charge, penalty notice, ticket, citation, infringement notice, and summons. Each of these terms carries a slightly different connotation, depending on the context in which it is used. For example, a penalty charge might be associated with a traffic offence, whereas a summons might be associated with a criminal offence. Regardless of the specific term used, the message is clear: breaking the law comes with consequences, and a fixed penalty is one of the most common ways that those consequences are enforced.