Section 11581 Of Article 3. Abatement From California Health And Safety Code >> Division 10. >> Chapter 10. >> Article 3.
11581
. (a) If the existence of the nuisance is established in the
action, an order of abatement shall be entered as a part of the
judgment, which order shall direct the removal from the building or
place of all fixtures, musical instruments, and other movable
property used in conducting, maintaining, aiding, or abetting the
nuisance and shall direct their sale in the manner provided for the
sale of chattels under execution.
(b) (1) The order shall provide for the effectual closing of the
building or place against its use for any purpose, and for keeping it
closed for a period of one year. This subdivision is intended to
give priority to closure. Any alternative to closure may be
considered only as provided in this section.
(2) In addition, the court may assess a civil penalty not to
exceed twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) against any or all of
the defendants, based upon the severity of the nuisance and its
duration.
(3) One-half of the civil penalties collected pursuant to this
section shall be deposited in the Restitution Fund in the State
Treasury, the proceeds of which shall be available only upon
appropriation by the Legislature to indemnify persons filing claims
pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 13959) of Chapter 5 of
Part 4 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, and one-half
of the civil penalties collected shall be paid to the city in which
the judgment was entered, if the action was brought by the city
attorney or city prosecutor. If the action was brought by a district
attorney, one-half of the civil penalties collected shall be paid to
the treasurer of the county in which the judgment was entered.
(c) (1) If the court finds that any vacancy resulting from closure
of the building or place may create a nuisance or that closure is
otherwise harmful to the community, in lieu of ordering the building
or place closed, the court may order the person who is responsible
for the existence of the nuisance, or the person who knowingly
permits controlled substances to be unlawfully sold, served, stored,
kept, or given away in or from a building or place he or she owns, to
pay damages in an amount equal to the fair market rental value of
the building or place for one year to the city or county in whose
jurisdiction the nuisance is located for the purpose of carrying out
drug abuse treatment, prevention, and education programs. If awarded
to a city, eligible programs may include those developed as a result
of cooperative programs among schools, community agencies, and the
local law enforcement agency. These funds shall not be used to
supplant existing city, county, state, or federal resources used for
drug prevention and education programs.
(2) For purposes of this subdivision, the actual amount of rent
being received for the rental of the building or place, or the
existence of any vacancy therein, may be considered, but shall not be
the sole determinant of the fair market rental value. Expert
testimony may be used to determine the fair market rental value.
(d) This section shall become operative on January 1, 1996.