(a)
In addition to any other fines and penalties, any local public agency which owns or operates vehicles used for the collection of garbage, refuse, or rubbish and which has, within any 90-day period, been convicted an excessive number of times for operating those vehicles in violation of any of the weight limitations set forth in Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 35550) of Division 15, taking into consideration the total number of trip routes for those vehicles which are normally scheduled in the same 90-day period, may be assessed a civil penalty not to exceed two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) for each violation. Nothing in
this section affects the legal standards, proof requirements, or penalty provisions of any other provision of the law.
(b)
The penalties imposed by this section shall be assessed and recovered in a civil action brought by the Attorney General or by any district attorney or city attorney. Prior to undertaking a civil action, a reasonable effort for informal resolution of the problem of excessive violations shall be made by the applicable attorney. Penalties recovered shall be paid to the Treasurer for deposit in the State Highway Account in the State Transportation Fund and used, upon appropriation, for purposes of highway maintenance.