(b) Civil penalties. Unless otherwise provided in this Act, any person who operates an amusement ride or amusement attraction without having obtained a permit from the Department in violation of this Act is subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $2,500 per violation for a first violation and not to exceed $5,000 for a second or subsequent violation.
Prior to any determination, or the imposition of any civil penalty, under this subsection (b), the Department shall notify the operator in writing of the alleged violation. The Department shall afford the operator 15 days from the date of the notice to present any written information that the operator wishes the Department to consider in connection with its determination in the matter. Upon written request of the operator, the Department shall convene an informal fact-finding conference, provided such request is received by the Department within 15 days of the date of the notice of the alleged violation. In determining the amount of a penalty, the Director may consider the appropriateness of the penalty to the person or entity charged, upon determination of the gravity of the violation. Penalties may be recovered in a civil action brought by the Director of Labor in any circuit court. In this litigation, the Director of Labor shall be represented by the Attorney General.
(Source: P.A. 96-151, eff. 8-7-09.)
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