California · Financial Code

FIN §17700: Any person who willfully violates any provision of this division, or who willfully violates any rule or order under this division, shall, upon conviction, be fined not more than ten thousand dollars (

Misdemeanor

What this law says, in plain English

Willful violation of division provisions or rules is punishable by a fine up to $10,000, county jail time up to one year, or both. Imprisonment requires knowledge of the rule or order violated.

Read the full statutory text

Any person who willfully violates any provision of this division, or who willfully violates any rule or order under this division, shall, upon conviction, be fined not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000), imprisoned in a county jail for not more than one year, imprisoned pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code, or be punished by both that fine and imprisonment, but no person may be imprisoned for the violation of any rule or order unless he or she had knowledge of the rule or order. Conviction under this section shall not preclude the commissioner from exercising the authority provided in Section 17423.

Verify at the official source: California legislative text

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.