(a) Retail violations.--The department may assess a civil penalty of not more than $5,000 upon a retailer who sells or offers or exposes for sale automotive fuel from any dispensing system, storage tank or other dispensing device which has not been labeled in accordance with the provisions of this subchapter or who sells or offers or exposes for sale any automotive fuel which does not meet or exceed the required standards for the automotive fuel rating displayed on the label attached to the dispensing system, storage tank or other dispensing device or who sells or offers or exposes for sale automotive fuel which has been contaminated.

(b) Distributor, producer or refiner violations.--The department may assess a civil penalty of not more than $5,000 upon a distributor, producer or refiner who sells or offers or exposes for sale automotive fuel which does not meet the automotive fuel rating certified by the distributor, producer or refiner or who sells or offers or exposes for sale automotive fuel which does not meet the requirements of section 4187.4 (relating to standards for automotive fuel).

(c) Knowledge of deceptive practice.--In addition to any civil penalty imposed for violations of subsection (a) or (b), the department may assess a distributor, producer, refiner or retailer with an additional civil penalty equal to:

(1) the difference between the price per gallon charged to the consumer for the automotive fuel in question and the price per gallon charged to the consumer for the lowest octane grade at the retail dispensing facility at the time of the violation; and

(2) multiplied by the capacity of the storage tank from which the product in question was dispensed;

if the distributor, producer, refiner or retailer violates any provisions of this subchapter with actual knowledge that the act or practice underlying the violation is unfair or deceptive.

(d) Repeat violations.--In addition to any civil penalty assessed in accordance with the provisions of this section, the department may initiate criminal proceedings for a second or subsequent violation of sections 4187.4 and 4187.5 (relating to automotive fuel rating, disclosure and labeling requirements). A second or subsequent violation shall constitute a misdemeanor of the third degree.

(e) Removal of seals.--The department may assess a civil penalty of not less than $1,000 nor more than $5,000 on any person, other than a person designated by the department, who:

(1) breaks, mutilates or destroys any seal placed upon a dispensing system, storage tank or other dispensing device used to deliver or store automotive fuel;

(2) removes automotive fuel from a dispensing system, storage tank or other dispensing device which has been sealed; or

(3) defaces or removes a posted notice of sealing.

(f) Hearings.--No civil penalty shall be assessed under this section unless the person charged has been given notice and opportunity for hearing in accordance with 2 Pa.C.S. (relating to administrative law and procedure).

(g) Innocent sellers exemption.--The department shall not impose a civil penalty for a violation of subsection (a) regarding labeling if the retailer labeled the dispensing system, storage tank or other dispensing device in reasonable reliance on documentation provided by the distributor, producer or refiner certifying the standards for automotive fuel rating.

(h) Private action by retailer.--If a retailer unknowingly and without deception sells or offers or exposes for sale automotive fuel which does not conform with the provisions of this subchapter, the distributor, producer, oxygenate blender or refiner, as the case may be, of the nonconforming automotive fuel shall be liable in damages to the retailer for any ascertainable loss of money or property.

(i) Acts or practices constituting unfair trade.--It shall be an unfair method of competition and an unfair or deceptive act or practice in or affecting trade and commerce in this Commonwealth within the meaning of section 3 of the act of December 17, 1968 (P.L.1224, No.387), known as the Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law, for any retailer, producer, distributor, oxygenate blender or refiner to violate the provisions of this subchapter or any regulations promulgated under this subchapter.

Cross References. Section 4187.7 is referred to in section 4187.6 of this title.