Article 5. Penalties And Injunctive Relief of California Food And Agricultural Code >> Division 6. >> Chapter 4. >> Article 5.

Every person who violates this division, or any regulation issued pursuant to this division, is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) nor more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), or by imprisonment of not less than 10 days nor more than six months, or by both that fine and imprisonment. Each violation constitutes a separate offense.

In lieu of seeking prosecution of any violation of this division as a misdemeanor, and the penalty prescribed in Section 11891, the director may prosecute civilly pursuant to Sections 11893 and 11894 or the commissioner may levy civil penalties pursuant to Section 12999.5.

Any person who violates this division, or any regulation issued pursuant to this division, is liable civilly in an amount not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000) nor more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each violation. Any money recovered under this section shall be paid into the Department of Pesticide Regulation Fund for use by the department in administering and enforcing this division pursuant to Section 11513, and in administering Division 7 (commencing with Section 12501).

Upon a complaint by the director, the Attorney General may bring an action for civil penalties in any court of competent jurisdiction in this state against any person violating any provision of this division, or any regulation issued pursuant to it. The Attorney General may bring an action for civil penalties on his own initiative if, after examining the complaint and the evidence, he or she believes a violation has occurred.

An action brought pursuant to this article shall be commenced by the director, the Attorney General, the district attorney, the city prosecutor, or the city attorney, as the case may be, within two years of the occurrence of the violation. However, when an investigation is completed and submitted to the director, the action shall be commenced within one year of that submission.

The commissioner or director may bring an action to enjoin the violation or the threatened violation of any order made pursuant to this division in the superior court in the county in which the order is issued or the violation occurs or is threatened, and the court may enjoin the violation or threatened violation upon that showing and without further evidence of irreparable injury. The court may compel specific performance of any acts or course of conduct necessary to protect persons, animals, crops, or property.