Charter-party carriers.

The Passenger Charter-Party Carriers' Act, with certain exceptions, prohibits a charter-party carrier of passengers from engaging in transportation services subject to regulation by the Public Utilities Commission without obtaining a specified certificate or permit, as appropriate, from the commission. The act imposes a maximum fine of not more than $1,000 in its general penalty provision for any violation or failure to comply with the act, an order or other requirement of the commission, or an operating permit or certificate, or aiding and abetting such a violation. The act also imposes maximum fines, and in certain cases, minimum fines for specific violations of the act, including, for conviction of operating a charter-party carrier of passengers or a taxicab without a valid certificate or permit, a maximum mandatory fine of $2,500 for a first conviction, or $5,000 for a subsequent conviction. This bill would revise that general penalty to set a minimum fine of $1,000 and a maximum fine of $5,000. The bill, for conviction of operating a charter-party carrier of passengers or a taxicab without a valid certificate, would increase mandatory fines for charter-party carriers of passengers, subjecting them to a maximum fine of $10,000 for a first conviction and $25,000 for a subsequent conviction. The bill would also increase a number of other existing fees, fines, and penalties for specific violations of the act. The bill would become operative only if AB 636 of the 2009–10 Regular Session is enacted and becomes operative on or before January 1, 2010.