Article 14. Abatement of California Food And Agricultural Code >> Division 17. >> Chapter 2. >> Article 14.

Any lot of fruits, nuts, or vegetables, including its containers, which is not in compliance in all respects with this division and the regulations which are issued pursuant to it, is a public nuisance.

Any enforcing officer, if he has reason to believe that any lot of fruits, nuts, or vegetables is not in compliance with this division or such regulations, may hold such lot pending proceedings to condemn and abate such nuisance, as provided in this article.

The officer may affix to any lot so held a tag or notice which warns that the lot is held and states the reason why it is held. It is unlawful for any person except an authorized enforcing officer to detach, alter, deface, or destroy any such tag or notice which is affixed to any such lot, or to remove or dispose of such lot in any manner or under conditions other than as prescribed in such tag or notice, except upon written permission of an authorized enforcing officer or by the order of a court.

The officer by whom any lot of fruits, nuts, or vegetables is held shall cause notice of noncompliance to be served upon the person in possession of the lot. The notice of noncompliance shall comply with all of the following requirements:
  (a) Include a description of the lot.
  (b) State the place where, and the reasons for which, the lot is held.
  (c) Give notice that the lot is a public nuisance and subject to disposal as provided in this article, unless within a specified time it is reconditioned or the deficiency otherwise corrected so as to bring it into compliance.

If the person served is not the sole owner of the lot, or does not have authority as agent for the owner to bring the lot into compliance, such person shall, in writing, notify the officer by whom such lot is held of the name and address of the owner and all other persons that are known to him to claim an interest in the lot. Any person that is served with such a notice of noncompliance is liable for any loss which is sustained by such owner or other person whose name and address he has knowingly concealed from such officer.

If the lot has not been reconditioned or the deficiency otherwise corrected so as to bring it into compliance within the time specified in the notice, the enforcing officer shall cause a copy of the notice to be served upon all persons that are designated in writing by the person in possession of the lot to be the owner or to claim an interest in it.

Any notice which is required by this article may be served personally or by mail which is addressed to the person to be served at his last known address.

The enforcing officer, with the written consent of all such persons served, may destroy such lot or otherwise abate the nuisance. If any such person fails or refuses to give such consent, the enforcing officer shall proceed as provided in Section 43039 or 43040.

If the lot which is held is perishable or subject to rapid deterioration, the enforcing officer may file a verified petition in superior court to destroy the lot or otherwise abate the nuisance. The petition shall show the condition of the lot, that the lot is situated within the county, that the lot is held, and that notice of noncompliance has been served as provided in this article. The court may thereupon order that the lot be forthwith destroyed or the nuisance otherwise abated as set forth in the order. A proceeding under this section is a limited civil case if the value of the property in controversy is less than or equal to the maximum amount in controversy for a limited civil case under Section 85 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

If the lot which is held is not perishable or subject to rapid deterioration, the enforcing officer shall immediately report the condition of the lot to the director. Within five days from the receipt of such report, the director may file a petition in the superior court in the county where the lot is situated for an order to show cause, returnable in five days, why the lot should not be abated. The owner or person in possession on his own motion within five days from the expiration of the time specified in the notice of noncompliance may file a petition in such court for an order to show cause, returnable in five days, why the lot should not be released to petitioner and any warning tags previously affixed removed from it. Final determination by the court in either case shall be within a period of not to exceed 20 days from the date such petition was filed.

The court may enter judgment ordering that the lot be condemned and destroyed in the manner which is directed by the court or relabeled, denatured, or otherwise processed, or sold or released upon such conditions as the court in its discretion may impose to insure that the nuisance will be abated. If the lot is sold by order of the court, the costs of storage, handling, and reconditioning or disposal shall be deducted from the proceeds of sale and the balance, if any, paid into court for the owner.