If an offense has a specific penalty, the general penalty does not apply.

• A. True
• B. Sometimes
• C. The general penalty does not apply when a specific penalty exists.
• D. Not applicable

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is that a specific penalty given by law takes precedence over any general penalty. The general penalty acts as a fallback for offenses that don’t have a distinct penalty listed. When a particular offense has its own designated penalty, that penalty applies and the general penalty does not. That’s why this option is correct: it directly states that the general penalty does not apply when a specific penalty exists. The other choices imply blanket or conditional outcomes that don’t reflect the rule that specific penalties control. For example, if a statute sets a particular fine or imprisonment for a crime, you don’t apply the broader general penalty alongside it.