California · Public Resources Code - PRC

PRC §48680: (a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), in addition to any other civil or criminal penalties, any person convicted of a violation of this chapter is guilty of an infraction, which is punishable by

Felony

What this law says, in plain English

Violations of this chapter are infractions punishable by fines. However, intentional fraud involving oil sales reporting or payments can result in jail time and higher fines, with felony treatment when amounts exceed $400.

Read the full statutory text
(a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), in addition to any other civil or criminal penalties, any person convicted of a violation of this chapter is guilty of an infraction, which is punishable by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars ($100) per day for each day the violation occurs. (b) (1) Every person who, with intent to defraud, does not accurately report the amount of oil sold, collected, or transferred pursuant to Article 8 (commencing with Section 48670), who, with intent to defraud, does not make payments as required by Section 48650, or who knowingly receives or pays a recycling incentive for oil upon which a payment has not been made pursuant to Section 48650 is guilty of fraud. If the money obtained or withheld is four hundred dollars ($400) or less, the fraud is punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than six months, by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both that fine and imprisonment. If the money obtained or withheld is more than four hundred dollars ($400), the fraud is punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one year or imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code, by a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or twice the late or unmade payments plus interest, whichever is greater, or by both that fine and imprisonment. (2) Any person who claims an exemption pursuant to this chapter which the person knows to be false, and makes that claim for the purpose of willfully evading the payment of any fee imposed pursuant to this chapter, is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one year. The person shall also be subject to payment of a fine not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000). The fine shall be distributed as follows: (A) Fifty percent to the local jurisdiction which undertook the prosecution. (B) Fifty percent to the General Fund. (c) Any person who violates this chapter may be assessed a civil penalty by the board of not more than one hundred dollars ($100) per day for each day the violation occurs or continues, pursuant to a hearing and notice.

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