A violation of Section 5.16.300 shall be a misdemeanor punishable by a fine and/or a term of imprisonment or both not exceeding the maximum amount or term as permitted by the Grass Valley city charter; provided, nevertheless, that any such aforesaid violation or offense may be deemed an infraction as defined by Section 19C of the California Penal Code and charged as such in the discretion and at the election of the prosecuting attorney, in which event the punishment therefor shall not be imprisonment but a fine not to exceed the amounts specified by Government Code Section 36900 as then in effect. Every day any violation of any provision of this chapter continues constitutes a separate offense. (Ord. 496 § 2 (part), 1993)