Washington § 69.30.150 - Civil penalties — General provisions.

(1) In addition to any other penalty provided by law, every person who violates standards set forth in this chapter or rules adopted under RCW 69.30.030 is subject to a penalty of not more than five hundred dollars per day for every violation. Every violation is a separate and distinct offense. In case of a continuing violation, every day's continuance is a separate and distinct violation. Every person who, through an act of commission or omission, procures, aids, or abets in the violation is in violation of this section and is subject to the penalty provided in this section.

(2) The penalty provided for in this section shall be imposed by a notice in writing to the person against whom the civil fine is assessed and shall describe the violation with reasonable particularity. The notice shall be personally served in the manner of service of a summons in a civil action or in a manner which shows proof of receipt. Any penalty imposed by this section shall become due and payable twenty-eight days after receipt of notice unless application for remission or mitigation is made as provided in subsection (3) of this section or unless application for an adjudicative proceeding is filed as provided in subsection (4) of this section.

(3) Within fourteen days after the notice is received, the person incurring the penalty may apply in writing to the department for the remission or mitigation of the penalty. Upon receipt of the application, the department may remit or mitigate the penalty upon whatever terms the department deems proper, giving consideration to the degree of hazard associated with the violation. The department may only grant a remission or mitigation that it deems to be in the best interests of carrying out the purposes of this chapter. The department may ascertain the facts regarding all such applications in a manner it deems proper. When an application for remission or mitigation is made, any penalty incurred pursuant to this section becomes due and payable twenty-eight days after receipt of the notice setting forth the disposition of the application, unless an application for an adjudicative proceeding to contest the disposition is filed as provided in subsection (4) of this section.

(4) Within twenty-eight days after notice is received, the person incurring the penalty may file an application for an adjudicative proceeding and may pursue subsequent review as provided in chapter 34.05 RCW and applicable rules of the department or board of health.

(5) Any penalty imposed by final order following an adjudicative proceeding becomes due and payable upon service of the final order.

(6) The attorney general may bring an action in the name of the department in the superior court of Thurston county or of any county in which the violator may do business to collect any penalty imposed under this chapter.

(7) All penalties imposed under this section shall be paid to the state treasury and credited to the general fund.