(a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), it is unlawful for any person to violate any of the terms or conditions of any special permit.
(b) In an incorporated city where compliance with the route described in a special permit would result in a violation of local traffic regulations, the permittee may detour from the prescribed route to avoid violating the local traffic regulations if the permittee returns as soon as possible to the prescribed route. A detour under this subdivision shall be made only on nonresidential streets.
(c) If a violation under subdivision (a) consists of an extralegal load not being on the route described in the special permit, and the violation is directly caused by the action of an employee under the supervision of, or by the action of any independent contractor working for, a permittee subject to this section, the employee or independent contractor causing the violation is guilty of a misdemeanor. This subdivision applies only if the employee or independent contractor has been provided written direction on the route to travel and has not been directed to take a different route by a peace officer.
(d) The guilt of an employee or independent contractor under subdivision (c) shall not extend to the permittee employing that person unless the permittee is separately responsible for an action causing the violation.
(e) A violation of equipment requirements contained in Division 12 (commencing with Section 24000), by any person operating a pilot car shall not be considered a violation of any terms or conditions of a special permit under subdivision (a).
(f) (1) Any person convicted of a violation of the terms and conditions of a special permit shall be punished by a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500) or by imprisonment in the county jail for a period not exceeding six months, or by both that fine and imprisonment.
(2) In addition, if the violation involves weight in excess of that authorized by the permit, an additional fine shall be levied as specified in Section 42030 on the amount of weight in excess of the amount authorized by the permit.
(Amended by Stats. 1988, Ch. 460, Sec. 6.)