Section 4601.1 - Civil penalties(a)(1) In addition to any other penalty, any person who intentionally, knowingly, or negligently violates this chapter or a rule or regulation adopted by the board pursuant to this chapter is subject to a civil penalty imposed by a court in an amount not to exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each violation. For purposes of this section, damage that occurs over multiple days that results from a single action shall not be considered a continuing violation. For purposes of this section, each specific act that results in a violation of this chapter or a rule or regulation adopted pursuant to this chapter, including an act that is repeated on separate days, shall be considered a separate violation.(2) The Attorney General or district attorney, upon request of the director, shall petition the superior court to impose, assess, and recover a civil penalty pursuant to this subdivision. In determining the appropriate amount, the court shall consider all relevant circumstances, including, but not limited to, persistence, circumstances, extent and gravity of the violation, the length of the time over which the violation occurred, whether any substantial damage caused by the violation is susceptible to corrective action, whether the violation was willful or caused by negligence, and, with respect to the violator, the ability of the violator to pay any fines or penalties, the effect on the ability to continue in business, the corrective action, if any, taken by the violator, whether the violator has any prior history of violations, the degree of culpability, economic savings, if any, resulting from the violation, and such other matters as justice may require.(b) A civil penalty may also be administratively imposed by the department in accordance with Section 4601.2 on any person who intentionally, knowingly, or negligently violates this chapter or a rule or regulation adopted by the board pursuant to this chapter in an amount not to exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each violation of a separate provision. For purposes of this section, damage that occurs over multiple days that results from a single action shall not be considered a continuing violation. For purposes of this section, each specific act that results in a violation of this chapter or a rule or regulation adopted pursuant to this chapter, including an act that is repeated on separate days, shall be considered a separate violation.(c) No person is subject to both a civil penalty imposed by the superior court under subdivision (a) and a civil penalty administratively imposed under subdivision (b) for the same act or failure to act.(d) Any money recovered by the department pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the General Fund.Ca. Pub. Res. Code § 4601.1
Amended by Stats 2002 ch 762 (SB 540), s 1, eff. 1/1/2003.Added September 29, 1999 (Bill Number: SB 621) (Chapter 582).