§690. Penalties
1. Criminal penalties. A person who intentionally or knowingly:
A. Violates a provision of this Act, or a rule or order of the department in effect pursuant to this Act, commits a Class D crime; or [PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. K, §3 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]
B. Violates a term, condition or limitation of a license or registration certificate issued under this Act, or commits a violation for which a license or registration certificate may be revoked under rules issued pursuant to this Act, commits a Class D crime. [PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. K, §3 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]
[PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. K, §3 (RPR); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]
2. Civil penalties. Civil penalties shall be assessed and enforced as follows.
A. Any person who violates any licensing or registration provision of this Act or any rule or order issued under this Act, any term, condition or limitation of any license or registration certificate issued under this Act, or any person who commits any violation for which a license or registration certificate may be revoked, suspended or modified under rules issued pursuant to this Act is subject to a civil penalty, to be imposed by the department, not to exceed $10,000 for each violation or $100,000 for any willful and wanton violation. If any violation is a continuing violation, each day of the violation shall constitute a separate violation for the purpose of computing the applicable civil penalty. The department may compromise, mitigate or remit the penalties. [PL 1987, c. 493, §9 (NEW).]
B. When the department has reason to believe that a person has become subject to the imposition of a civil penalty under the provisions of this section, the department may notify the Attorney General or hold a public hearing. If a hearing is scheduled, the commissioner shall give at least 30 days' written notice to the alleged violator of the date, time and place of that hearing. The notice shall specify the act done or omitted to be done which is claimed to be in violation of law; identify the particular provisions of the section, rule, order or license involved in the violation; and advising of each penalty which the department proposes to impose and its amount. The notice shall be sent by registered or certified mail by the department to the last known address of the person.
Any hearing conducted under the authority of this subsection shall be in accordance with the provisions of the Maine Administrative Procedure Act, Title 5, chapter 375.
At the hearing, the alleged violator may appear in person or by attorney and answer the allegations of violation and file a statement of the facts, including the methods, practices and procedures, if any, adopted or used by him to comply with this chapter and present such evidence as may be pertinent and relevant to the alleged violation. [PL 1987, c. 493, §9 (NEW).]
C. On the request of the department, the Attorney General may institute a civil action to collect a penalty imposed pursuant to this subsection. Only the Attorney General may compromise, mitigate or remit such civil penalties as are referred to him for collection. [PL 1987, c. 493, §9 (NEW).]
D. All money collected from civil penalties shall be paid to the Treasurer of State for deposit in the General Fund. Money collected from civil penalties shall not be used for normal operating expenses of the department, except as appropriations made from the General Fund in the normal budgetary process. [PL 1987, c. 493, §9 (NEW).]
[PL 1987, c. 493, §9 (RPR).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1983, c. 345, §§13,14 (NEW). PL 1987, c. 493, §9 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 452, §K3 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 452, §X2 (AFF).