§ 374.3. — 374.3. (Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 784, Sec. 1.)

California § 374.3.

• Jurisdiction: California
• Code PEN: Penal Code - PEN
• Title: 10.
• Part 1.: TITLE 10. OF CRIMES AGAINST THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY

Text

(a)
It is unlawful to dump or cause to be dumped waste matter in or upon a public or private highway or road, including any portion of the right-of-way thereof, or in or upon private property into or upon which the public is admitted by easement or license, or upon private property without the consent of the owner, or in or upon a public park or other public property other than property designated or set aside for that purpose by the governing board or body having charge of that property.
(b)
It is unlawful to place, deposit, or dump, or cause to be placed, deposited, or dumped, rocks, concrete, asphalt, or dirt in or upon a private highway or road,
including any portion of the right-of-way of the private highway or road, or private property, without the consent of the owner or a contractor under contract with the owner for the materials, or in or upon a public park or other public property, without the consent of the state or local agency having jurisdiction over the highway, road, or property.
(c)
A person violating this section is guilty of an infraction. Each day that waste placed, deposited, or dumped in violation of subdivision (a) or (b) remains is a separate violation.
(d)
This section does not restrict a private owner in the use of their own private property, unless the placing, depositing, or dumping of the waste matter on the property creates a public health and safety hazard, a public nuisance, or a fire hazard, as determined
by a local health department, local fire department or district providing fire protection services, or the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, in which case this section applies.
(e)
A person convicted of a violation of this section shall be punished by a mandatory fine of not less than two hundred fifty dollars ($250) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) upon a first conviction, by a mandatory fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) nor more than one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) upon a second conviction, and by a mandatory fine of not less than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750) nor more than three thousand dollars ($3,000) upon a third or subsequent conviction. If the court finds that the waste matter placed, deposited, or dumped was used tires, the fine prescribed in this subdivision shall be
doubled.
(f)
The court may require, in addition to any fine imposed upon a conviction, that a person convicted under this section remove, or pay the cost of removing, any waste matter which the convicted person dumped or caused to be dumped upon public or private property.
(g)
The
court may, in addition to the fine imposed upon a conviction, require that a person convicted of a violation of this section pick up waste matter at a time and place within the jurisdiction of the court for not less than 12 hours.
(h)
(1)
Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (2), a person who places, deposits, or dumps, or causes to be placed, deposited, or dumped, waste matter in violation of this section in commercial quantities shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for not more than six months and by a fine. The fine is mandatory and shall amount to not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000) nor more than
three thousand dollars ($3,000) upon a first conviction, not less than three thousand dollars ($3,000) nor more than six thousand dollars ($6,000) upon a second conviction, and not less than six thousand dollars ($6,000) nor more than
ten thousand dollars ($10,000) upon a third or subsequent conviction.
(2)
If a person convicted under paragraph (1) is the owner or operator of the business involved in the illegal dumping, and that business employs more than 10 full-time employees, the fine shall amount to not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000) nor more than five thousand dollars ($5,000) upon a first conviction, not less than three thousand dollars ($3,000) nor more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) upon a second conviction, and not less than six thousand dollars ($6,000) nor more than twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) upon a third or
subsequent conviction.
(3)
The court shall require, in addition to the fine imposed upon a conviction,
that a person convicted under this subdivision remove, or pay the cost of removing, any waste matter which the convicted person dumped or caused to be dumped upon public or private property.
(4)
(A)
If a person convicted under this subdivision holds a license or permit to conduct business that is substantially related to the illegal dumping for which the person was convicted, the court shall notify the applicable licensing or permitting entity subject to the jurisdiction of the Department of Consumer Affairs as set forth in Section 101 of the Business and Professions Code, if any, of the conviction.
(B)
The licensing or permitting entity shall record and post the offense on the public profile of the license or permitholder on the internet website of the entity.
(5)
“Commercial quantities” means an amount of waste matter generated in
the course of a trade, business, profession, or occupation, or an amount equal to or in excess of one cubic yard. This subdivision does not apply to the dumping of household waste at a person’s own residence.
(i)
For purposes of this section, “person” means an individual, trust, firm, partnership, joint stock company, joint venture, or corporation.
(j)
When setting fines pursuant to this section, the court shall consider the defendant’s ability to pay, including consideration of, without limitation, all of the following:
(1)
The defendant’s present financial position.
(2)
The defendant’s reasonably discernible future financial position, provided that the court shall not consider a period of more than one year from the date of the hearing for purposes of determining the reasonably discernible future financial position of the defendant.
(3)
The likelihood that the defendant will be able to
obtain employment within one year from the date of the hearing.
(4)
Any other factor that may bear upon the defendant’s financial capability to pay the fine.

Legislative History

Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 784, Sec. 1. (AB 2374) Effective January 1, 2023.