Notwithstanding subdivision (d) of Section 5008 of the Public Resources Code, or any other provision of state law, and to the extent authorized under federal law, a person who violates a state or federal regulation that prohibits entry of a motor vehicle into all or portions of an area designated as a federal or state wilderness area is guilty of a public offense and shall be punished as follows:
(a) Except as provided in subdivisions (b) and (c), the offense is an infraction punishable by a fine not exceeding one hundred fifty dollars ($150).
(b) For a second offense committed within seven years after a prior violation for which there was a conviction punishable under subdivision (a), the offense is an infraction punishable by a fine not exceeding two hundred twenty-five dollars ($225).
(c) (1) For a third or subsequent offense committed within seven years after two or more prior violations for which there were convictions punishable under this section, the offense is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not exceeding three hundred dollars ($300) or by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding 90 days, or by both that fine and imprisonment.
(2) In addition to the fine imposed under paragraph (1), the court may order impoundment of the vehicle used in the offense under the following conditions:
(A) The person convicted under this subdivision is the owner of the vehicle.
(B) The vehicle is subject to Section 4000 or 38010.
(3) The period of impoundment imposed pursuant to this subdivision shall be not less than one day nor more than 30 days. The impoundment shall be at the owner’s expense.
(Added by Stats. 2005, Ch. 571, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 2006.)