Under the AFL's measures announced at the start of the month, Cerra was referred directly to the tribunal after a collision with umpire Rob O'Gorman in last week's loss to Brisbane.
It was the fourth time he had been booked for the offence within two years, triggering the hearing instead of being able to have an early guilty plea accepted.
The AFL is concerned about the growing prevalence of the collisions, which mostly happen at centre bounces.
Cerra, who watched the hearing via video link but didn't give any evidence, pleaded guilty.
The 25-year-old had been backing away from Lions opponent Lachie Neale late in the second quarter when he made contact with O'Gorman.
Carlton argued Cerra should only receive a $5000 fine, saying he likely would have contested previous charges had the direct referral for umpire contact been in place before this month.
However, the AFL pushed for the sanction to be $6250, meaning the two parties spent more an hour debating over $1250.
The tribunal spent 30 minutes deliberating before deciding to meet almost in the middle at $5550.
"To penalise Cerra for the higher number of umpire contacts this year would be unfair," Blues barrister Elizabeth Bateman told the panel.
"It would be punishing him for events that he has absolutely no control over."
In a big night at the tribunal, Brisbane Lions premiership player Zac Bailey and star North Melbourne ruckman Tristan Xerri will challenge their respective bans.
North confirmed on Tuesday morning they would appeal, after Xerri was banned for knocking out Melbourne onballer Tom Sparrow.
While the Roos did not specify what their case would be, the most obvious argument would be that the grading should be accidental conduct, not careless.
The incident sparked a furious reaction from Melbourne on Sunday and Demons hard-nut Jack Viney made no apologies for "flying the flag" after Xerri knocked out Sparrow, who was stretchered off the MCG.
"To see a teammate go down like that is quite scary and hopefully Tom's OK," Viney told AAP.
"It didn't look great out there from Tom's perspective. Fingers crossed Tom will be on the mend in not too long."
Bailey will also front the tribunal after incurring a suspension that would rule him out of Friday night's home game against the Western Bulldogs.Â
The in-form Lion will challenge his one-match ban for rough conduct, after a high bump on Carlton defender Nick Haynes.
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