Beverly Hills Municipal Code Art. 1 Offense and Punishment

A. No person shall violate or fail to comply with any provision or requirement of this code. Any person who shall violate or fail to comply with any provision or requirement of this code, or a condition of any permit issued pursuant to this code, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, unless: 1) such a violation or failure is designated as an infraction or is subsequently prosecuted as an infraction, in which case such person is guilty of an infraction; or 2) such a violation or failure is prosecuted as a civil administrative action pursuant to article 3 of this chapter. Any person who fails to pay an administrative fine or to comply with an administrative order is guilty of a misdemeanor as provided for in article 3 of this chapter.

B. Any violation of any provision of this code may be prosecuted as a misdemeanor, as an infraction, or as a civil administrative action in the discretion of the city attorney or city prosecutor. (1962 Code § 1-4.01; amd. Ord. 00-O-2356, eff. 11-3-2000)

It shall constitute a new and separate offense for each and every day during any portion of which a violation of, or failure to comply with, any provision or requirement of this code is committed, continued, or permitted by any person and shall be punished accordingly. (1962 Code § 1-4.02)

In addition to other penalties provided by law, any condition caused or permitted to exist in violation of any provision of this code shall be deemed a public nuisance and may be summarily abated as such by the city, and each day such condition continues shall constitute a new and separate offense. (1962 Code § 1-4.03)

Whenever any act or omission is prohibited by any provision of this code, such prohibition shall be deemed also to prohibit the causing, permitting, aiding, abetting, suffering, or concealing of such act or omission, and any person who shall cause, permit, aid, abet, suffer or conceal such act or omission shall be guilty of a violation of this code and shall be punishable in accordance with the punishment prescribed for such act or omission. (1962 Code § 1-4.04)

The occupant of any premises upon which a violation of any provision of this code is apparent, the owner of any object or material placed or remaining anywhere in violation of any provision of this code, or the occupant of any premises served by any excavation or structure made or erected in violation of any provision of this code shall be deemed prima facie responsible for the violation and subject to the penalties provided therefor. (1962 Code § 1-4.05)

Unless otherwise specifically provided in this code, any person guilty of a misdemeanor under a provision of this code shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00), or by imprisonment for a period of not more than six (6) months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

As prescribed in section 36900 of the Government Code of the state and section 42001 of the Vehicle Code of the state, any person who has committed an infraction shall be punished for a first violation by a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100.00), and for committing the same offense a second time within one year by a fine not exceeding two hundred dollars ($200.00), and for committing the same offense a third or any subsequent time within one year, by a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500.00). (1962 Code § 1-4.06)

Any violation of a condition of any permit or approval issued pursuant to this code shall constitute a violation of this code. (Ord. 00-O-2356, eff. 11-3-2000)