§ 660.14. PENALTIES.

(a) Any person violating any provision of this Article shall be guilty of a misdemeanor or an infraction. The complaint charging such violation shall specify whether the violation is a misdemeanor or infraction, which decision shall be that of the District Attorney. If charged as an infraction, upon conviction, the violator shall be punished by a fine of not less than $125 or more than $250 for each provision violated. If charged as a misdemeanor, upon conviction, the violator shall be punished by a fine of not less than $500 or more than $600 for each provision violated or by imprisonment in the County Jail for a period of not more than six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment. In any accusatory pleading charging a violation of this Article, if the defendant has been previously convicted of a violation of this Article, each such previous violation and conviction shall be charged in the accusatory pleading. Any person violating any provision of this Article a second time within a 30-day period shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of not less than $650 and not more than $750 for each provision violated, or by imprisonment in the County Jail for a period of not more than six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Any person violating any provision of this Article a third time, and each subsequent time, within a 30-day period shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of not less than $750 and not more than $1,000 for each provision violated, or by imprisonment in the County Jail for a period of not more than six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

(b) Any person who violates or proposes to violate any of the provisions of this Article may be enjoined by any court of competent jurisdiction. The court may make such orders or judgments, including the appointment of a receiver, as may be necessary to prevent the use or employment by any charitable organization or person of any practices which violate this Article, or which may be necessary to restore to any person any money or property, real or personal, which may have been required by means of any practice in this Article declared to be unlawful.

Actions for injunction under this Section may be prosecuted by the Attorney General, the District Attorney, or City Attorney upon their own complaint or upon the complaint of any board, officer, person or by any person or charitable organization acting for the interests of itself, its members or the general public. In its discretion, the court may allow the party bringing the action reasonable costs, including attorney's fees.

(c) Any person who intentionally violates any injunction issued pursuant to this Section shall be liable for a civil penalty not to exceed $6,000 for each violation. Where the conduct constituting a violation is of a continuing nature, each day of such conduct is a separate and distinct violation. In determining the amount of the civil penalty, the court shall consider all relevant circumstances, including, but not limited to, the extent of harm caused by the conduct constituting a violation, the nature and persistence of such conduct, the length of time over which the conduct occurred, the assets, liabilities and net worth of the person, whether corporate or individual, and any corrective action taken by the defendant.

(d) If any action for violation of Subsection (c) is brought by the Attorney General, one-half of the penalty collected pursuant to this Section shall be paid to the Treasurer of the City and County of San Francisco, and one-half to the State Treasurer for deposit in the General Fund. If brought by the District Attorney, one-half of the penalty collected pursuant to this Section shall be paid to the Treasurer of the City and County of San Francisco for deposit in a special fund of the District Attorney to be created for the deposit and expenditure of such funds, and one-half shall be paid to the Treasurer of the City and County of San Francisco for deposit in the General Fund. If brought by the City Attorney, one-half of the penalty collected pursuant to this Section shall be paid to the Treasurer of the City and County of San Francisco for deposit in a special fund of the City Attorney to be created for the deposit and expenditure of such funds, and one-half shall be paid to the Treasurer of the City and County of San Francisco for deposit in the General Fund. If brought by a private party, one-half of the penalty collected pursuant to this Section shall be paid to such the party and one-half shall be paid to the Treasurer of the City and County of San Francisco for deposit in the General Fund.

(e) Any person who violates any provision of this Article shall be liable for a civil penalty not to exceed $2,500 for each violation, which shall be assessed and recovered in a civil action brought in the name of the people of the City and County of San Francisco by the Attorney General, the District Attorney, or the City Attorney in any court of competent jurisdiction, upon their own complaint or upon the complaint of any board, officer, person or by any person or charitable organization acting for the interests of itself, its members or the general public. In its discretion, the court may allow the party bringing the action reasonable costs, including attorney's fees.

(f) If any action for violation of Subsection (e) is brought by the Attorney General, one-half of the penalty collected shall be paid to the Treasurer of the City and County of San Francisco for deposit in the General Fund and one-half to the State Treasurer. If brought by the District Attorney, one-half of the penalty collected pursuant to this Section shall be paid to the Treasurer of the City and County of San Francisco for deposit in a special fund of the District Attorney to be created for the deposit and expenditure of such funds, and one-half shall be paid to the Treasurer of the City and County of San Francisco for deposit in the General Fund. If brought by the City Attorney, one-half of the penalty collected pursuant to this section shall be paid to the Treasurer of the City and County of San Francisco for deposit in a special fund of the City Attorney to be created for the deposit and expenditure of such funds, and one-half shall be paid to the Treasurer of the City and County of San Francisco for deposit in the General Fund. If brought by a private party, one-half of the penalty collected pursuant to this Section shall be paid to such the party and one-half shall be paid to the Treasurer of the City and County of San Francisco for deposit in the General Fund.

(g) Any person who intentionally or negligently violates any of the reporting requirements of this Article shall be liable in a civil action brought by any person otherwise authorized to file an action under this Article for an amount of three times the amount not properly reported if the violation was intentional or the amount not properly reported if the violation was negligent.

(h) The remedies provided for in this Section are cumulative to each other and to the remedies or penalties available under all other laws of the City and County of San Francisco and the State of California.

(i) If two or more persons are responsible for any violation of this Article, they shall be jointly and severably liable.

(Amended by Ord. 106-87, App. 4/3/87; Ord. 53-89, App. 3/1/89; Ord. 289-90, App. 8/1/90)