(a)
Any person who violates any of the provisions of this chapter of the Santa Barbara
County Code or fails to comply with any order made under this chapter or who builds
in violation of any plans submitted and/or reviewed under this chapter, or who violated
the provisions of any certificate or permit issued under this chapter, and/or who
fails to comply with an order made under the authority of this chapter, is, for each
and every such violation and noncompliance respectively, severally guilty of a crime.
The offense may be filed either as an infraction or a misdemeanor at the discretion
of the district attorney.
(b)
If filed as an infraction and upon conviction thereof, the crime shall be punishable
by a fine not to exceed one hundred dollars for a first violation, a fine not to exceed
two hundred dollars for a second violation of the same code provision within a period
of one year, and a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars for each additional violation
of the same Code provision within one year.
(c)
If filed as a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof, the crime shall be punishable
by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars nor more than twenty-five thousand
dollars, or imprisonment in the county jail for a period not to exceed ninety days,
or by both such fine and imprisonment, except that where such prior convictions, as
either infractions or misdemeanors, are alleged in the accusatory pleading, and either
admitted by the defendant in open court, or found to be true by a jury trying the
case, or by the court in a case where guilt is established by a plea of guilty or
nolo contendere, or by trial by the court sitting without a jury, the punishment shall
be a fine of not less than one thousand dollars nor more than twenty-five thousand
dollars, or imprisonment in the county jail for a period not to exceed one hundred
eighty days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
(d)
Each and every day during any portion of which any violation of this chapter or the
rules, regulations, orders, or permits issued there under, is committed, continued
or permitted by such person, firm, or corporation shall be deemed a separate and distinct
offense.
