(a) Except as otherwise provided in Section 42400.1, 42400.2, 42400.3, 42400.3.5, or 42400.4, any person who violates this part, or any rule, regulation, permit, or order of the state board or of a district, including a district hearing board, adopted pursuant to Part 1 (commencing with Section 39000) to Part 4 (commencing with Section 41500), inclusive, is guilty of a misdemeanor and is subject to a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000) or imprisonment in the county jail for not more than six months, or both.

(b) If a violation under subdivision (a) with regard to the failure to operate a vapor recovery system on a gasoline cargo tank is directly caused by the actions of an employee under the supervision of, or of any independent contractor working for, any person subject to this part, the employee or independent contractor, as the case may be, causing the violation is guilty of a misdemeanor and is punishable as provided in subdivision (a). That liability shall not extend to the person employing the employee or retaining the independent contractor, unless that person is separately guilty of an action that violates this part.

(c) Any person who owns or operates any source of air contaminants in violation of Section 41700 that causes actual injury, as defined in subdivision (d), to the health or safety of a considerable number of persons or the public is guilty of a misdemeanor and is subject to a fine of not more than fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) or imprisonment in the county jail for not more than nine months, or both.

(d) As used in this section, “actual injury” means any physical injury that, in the opinion of a licensed physician and surgeon, requires medical treatment involving more than a physical examination.

(e) Each day during any portion of which a violation of subdivision (a) or (c) occurs is a separate offense.

(Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 136, Sec. 4. (AB 617) Effective January 1, 2018.)