(a) Any person who moves or transports any animal without inspection, as required by this chapter, is liable to the director for a civil penalty in the amount of the expenses incurred by the director to investigate and prosecute the violation and, if the violation involved the unlawful taking of animals, the expenses incurred by the director to recover and return the animal or animals to their owner.
(b) If the director finds that a violation of subdivision (a) has occurred, he or she shall calculate the amount of the civil penalty and make demand for payment within 30 days thereof. The respondent may deny liability in whole or in part, in which case the director shall set the matter for hearing before a hearing officer of the department or, at the director’s discretion, pursuant to Section 11502 of the Government Code. The hearing procedure under this subdivision shall be conducted pursuant to Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
(c) The respondent may petition for judicial review of the director’s determination to assess a civil penalty pursuant to Section 1094.5 of the Code of Civil Procedure by filing an action within 30 days of the date of service of the director’s decision.
(d) The civil penalty in this section is in addition to any other civil or criminal penalties provided by law.
(e) Any funds collected pursuant to this section shall be paid into the Department of Food and Agriculture Fund.
(Added by Stats. 1985, Ch. 644, Sec. 1.)