A payment of a fine, without appearing in court, is the same as?

When an individual pays a fine without appearing in court, it is treated as an admission of guilt, which results in a conviction of the charges against them. By making this payment, the individual is effectively acknowledging that they committed the violation, and this acknowledgment leads to a legal record of conviction.

This process is commonly used for minor offenses, such as traffic violations, where the option to pay the fine directly is available to avoid the inconvenience of a court appearance. As a consequence of this conviction, points may be added to the individual's driving record, and the case will be reported to the relevant authorities.

Thus, in this context, the act of paying the fine transforms the situation into a conviction, which has legal implications, such as potential repercussions on one's driving privileges and insurance rates. The other options do not align with this understanding of the legal process related to fines and convictions.