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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>58263</law_id><section_number>3.2-5646</section_number><catch_line>Civil penalties; suit to enjoin violation; compromise</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>3.2-5702</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="3.2">Agriculture, Animal Care, and Food</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="IV">Food and Drink; Weights and Measures</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="56">Weights and Measures</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> may bring a suit to enjoin the violation of any provision of this chapter, or any regulation made pursuant thereto, in the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> of the county or city where the violation occurs, or in the <span class="dictionary">Circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">Court</span> of the City of Richmond if the violation may affect more than one county or city. The <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> may request either the attorney for the Commonwealth or the <span class="dictionary">Attorney General</span> to take action under this section, when appropriate. <a id="paragraph-213480" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-5646/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Any person violating a provision of this chapter or regulations adopted hereunder may be assessed a civil <span class="dictionary">penalty</span> by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> in an amount not to exceed $1,000. In determining the amount of any civil <span class="dictionary">penalty</span>, the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> shall give due consideration to: (i) the history of previous violations of the person; (ii) the seriousness of the violation; and (iii) the demonstrated good faith of the person charged in attempting to achieve compliance with the chapter after notification of the violation. <a id="paragraph-213481" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-5646/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Civil penalties assessed under this section shall be paid into the <span class="dictionary">Weights and Measures</span> Fund as established in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Weights and Measures Fund established; purpose" href="/3.2-5628/">3.2-5628</a>. The <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> shall prescribe procedures for payment of uncontested penalties. The procedure shall include provisions for a person to consent to abatement of the alleged violation and pay a <span class="dictionary">penalty</span> or negotiated sum in lieu of such <span class="dictionary">penalty</span> without admission of civil liability arising from such alleged violation.
			<span class="dictionary">Final orders</span> may be recorded, enforced, and satisfied as orders or <span class="dictionary">decrees</span> of a <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> upon certification of such orders by the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span>. The orders may be appealed in accordance with the provisions of the Administrative Process Act (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Short title; purpose" href="/2.2-4000/">2.2-4000</a> et seq.). <a id="paragraph-213482" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-5646/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1991, c. 605, &#xA7; 3.1-966.1; 2008, c. 860.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
