In addition to any civil penalties provided in this division, violation of this article is punishable as follows:
(a) As a misdemeanor by a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000), by imprisonment in a county jail for not more than one year, or by both that fine and imprisonment for each violation.
(b) In addition, any violation of Section 17550.14 or subdivision (b) or (c) of Section 17550.15 where money or real or personal property received or obtained by a seller of travel for transportation or travel services from any and all persons aggregates two thousand three hundred fifty dollars ($2,350) or more in any consecutive 12-month period, or the payment or payments by or on behalf of any one passenger exceeds in the aggregate nine hundred fifty dollars ($950) in any 12-month period, is punishable either as a misdemeanor or as a felony by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code for 16 months, or two or three years, by a fine of not more than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000), or by both that fine and imprisonment for each violation.
(c) In addition, any intentional use for any purpose of a false seller of travel registration number, with intent to defraud, by an unregistered seller of travel is punishable as a misdemeanor or felony as provided in this section.
(d) Any violation of Section 17550.15 shall be a misdemeanor and shall be punished as provided in this section. Every act in violation of Section 17550.15 may be prosecuted as a separate and distinct violation and consecutive sentences may be imposed for each violation.
(e) Sellers of travel shall also comply with Sections 17537, 17537.1, and 17537.2 of the Business and Professions Code and all other applicable laws. This section shall not be construed to preclude the applicability of any other provision of the criminal law of this state that applies or may apply to any transaction.
(Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 15, Sec. 28. (AB 109) Effective April 4, 2011. Operative October 1, 2011, by Sec. 636 of Ch. 15, as amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 39, Sec. 68.)