California · Health and Safety Code - HSC

HSC §25515.3: (a) A person or business that violates Section 25510 shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not more than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) for each day of violation, by imprisonment in

Misdemeanor

What this law says, in plain English

Violating Section 25510 regarding oil spills is punishable by fines up to $25,000–$50,000 per day and/or up to one year in county jail. Repeat offenders face harsher penalties including potential state prison time.

Read the full statutory text
(a) A person or business that violates Section 25510 shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not more than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) for each day of violation, by imprisonment in a county jail for not more than one year, or by both the fine and imprisonment. If the conviction is for a violation committed after a first conviction under this section, the person shall be punished by a fine of not less than two thousand dollars ($2,000) or more than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) per day of violation, by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code for 16, 20, or 24 months or in a county jail for not more than one year, or by both the fine and imprisonment. Furthermore, if the violation results in, or significantly contributes to, an emergency, including a fire, to which the county or city is required to respond, the person shall also be assessed the full cost of the county or city emergency response, as well as the cost of cleaning up and disposing of the hazardous materials. (b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), a person who knowingly fails to report, pursuant to Section 25510, an oil spill occurring in waters of the state, other than marine waters, shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not more than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000), by imprisonment in a county jail for not more than one year, or by both that fine and imprisonment. (c) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), a person who knowingly makes a false or misleading report on an oil spill occurring in waters of the state, other than marine waters, shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not more than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000), by imprisonment in a county jail for not more than one year, or by both that fine and imprisonment. (d) This section does not preclude prosecution or sentencing under other provisions of law.

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.