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LSDefine
Simple English definitions for legal terms
excessive fine
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A quick definition of excessive fine:
Excessive Fine: An excessive fine is a punishment that is too high and unfair for the crime committed. It can be a large amount of money that someone has to pay as a penalty for breaking the law. The Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution prohibits excessive fines. For example, if someone's property is taken away as a punishment, but it was not related to the crime they committed, and the value of the property is not proportional to their wrongdoing, it would be considered an excessive fine.
A more thorough explanation:
An excessive fine is a punishment in the form of a monetary penalty that is unreasonably high and disproportionate to the offense committed. This type of fine can seriously impair one's earning capacity, especially from a business. The Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution prohibits excessive fines.
For example, a civil forfeiture in which the property was not an instrumentality of the crime and the worth of the property was not proportional to the owner's culpability is considered an excessive fine. Another example is a fine that is so high that it bankrupts a business, causing it to shut down.
These examples illustrate how an excessive fine can be unfair and unjust, causing harm to individuals and businesses beyond what is reasonable for the offense committed.
exceptio plurium concubentium defense | Excessive Fines Clause