In lieu of civil prosecution, the secretary or the commissioner may levy a civil penalty against any person violating the provisions of this chapter or any regulation adopted pursuant to its provisions. The civil penalty for each violation shall be, for a first violation, a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500). For a second or subsequent violation, the fine shall be not less than one hundred dollars ($100), nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000). Before a civil penalty is levied, the person charged with the violation shall receive notice of the nature of the violation and shall be given an opportunity to be heard. This shall include the right to review the evidence and a right to present evidence on his or her own behalf. Subdivision (e) of Section 43003 shall apply to any fine levied pursuant to this section.
(Added by Stats. 2005, Ch. 220, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2006.)