Section 2125 Of Article 1. Generally From California Fish And Game Code >> Division 3. >> Chapter 2. >> Article 1.
2125
. (a) In addition to any other penalty provided by law, any
person who violates this chapter or any regulations implementing this
chapter, is subject to a civil penalty of not less than five hundred
dollars ($500) nor more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each
violation. Except as otherwise provided, any violation of this
chapter or of any regulations implementing this chapter is a
misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for not more
than six months, or by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars
($1,000).
(b) The Attorney General, or the city attorney of the city or the
district attorney or county counsel of the county in which a
violation of this article occurs, may bring a civil action to recover
the civil penalty in subdivision (a) and the costs of seizing and
holding the animal listed in Section 2118, except to the extent that
those costs have already been collected as provided by subdivision
(d). The civil action shall be brought in the county in which the
violation occurs and any penalty imposed shall be transferred to the
Controller for deposit in the Fish and Game Preservation Fund in
accordance with Section 13001.
(c) In an action brought under this section, in addition to the
penalty specified in subdivision (a), the reasonable costs of
investigation, reasonable attorney's fees, and reasonable expert
witness' fees may also be recovered and those amounts shall be
credited to the same operating funds as those from which the
expenditures for those purposes were derived.
(d) (1) If an animal is confiscated because the animal was kept in
contravention of this chapter or any implementing regulations, the
person claiming the animal shall pay to the department or the new
custodian of the animal an amount sufficient to cover all reasonable
expenses expected to be incurred in caring for and providing for the
animal for at least 30 days, including, but not limited to, the
estimated cost of food, medical care, and housing.
(2) If the person claiming the animal fails to comply with the
terms of his or her permit and to regain possession of the animal by
the expiration of the first 30-day period, the department may
euthanize the animal or place the animal with an appropriate wild
animal facility at the end of the 30 days, unless the person claiming
the animal pays all reasonable costs of caring for the animal for a
second 30-day period before the expiration of the first 30-day
period. If the permittee is still not in compliance with the terms of
the permit at the end of the second 30-day period, the department
may euthanize the animal or place the animal in an appropriate wild
animal facility.
(3) The amount of the payments described in paragraphs (1) and (2)
shall be determined by the department, and shall be based on the
current reasonable costs to feed, provide medical care for, and house
the animal. If the person claiming the animal complies with the
terms of his or her permit and regains possession of the animal, any
unused portion of the payments required pursuant to paragraphs (1)
and (2) shall be returned to the person claiming the animal no later
than 90 days after the date on which the person regains possession of
the animal.