(a) Any violation or threatened violation of any provision of this chapter or regulations of the director established pursuant to this chapter is unlawful and shall constitute grounds for injunctive relief and the imposition of civil penalties of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) and not exceeding five thousand dollars ($5,000) per violation. This action may be brought in a court of competent jurisdiction by the director or district attorney of a county in which a violation or threatened violation occurred. The California Avocado Commission and the Avocado Inspection Committee are also authorized to bring an action for injunctive relief on grounds provided for in this chapter. In bringing this action, the commission or committee is not required to allege facts necessary to show or which tend to show lack of an adequate remedy at law, or which show or tend to show irreparable damage or loss. Prior to commencing this action, the commission shall allow the director the opportunity to bring an action for injunctive relief following the same procedure as provided for the committee in Section 45015. Notwithstanding the director’s decision on whether or not to bring an action for injunctive relief, nothing in this section or in Section 45015 shall be construed as preventing the commission from bringing an action for injunctive relief.
(b) In addition to the requirements of subdivision (a), and except as provided in subdivision (c) and Sections 42945, 42948, 42949, and 44986, a violation of this chapter is an infraction punishable by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500).
(c) It is unlawful for any person to fail to comply with the inspection or certification requirements of this chapter. A violation is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than two hundred fifty dollars ($250) nor more than five thousand dollars (5,000) or by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than six months, or by both the fine and imprisonment.
(d) Each violation or threatened violation involving a lot of avocados shall be treated as a separate violation. Any number of defendants in any number of counties may be joined in one action even though the violations or threatened violations are not the same, and jurisdiction for the action may be established in any county in which any of the violations or threatened violations occur.
(Amended by Stats. 1989, Ch. 1068, Sec. 2. Effective September 30, 1989.)