A first, second and third violation of this chapter within a twelve-month period shall be an infraction as defined in Section 19C of the California Penal Code; the punishment for such violation shall be a fine not to exceed the amounts specified in Government Code Section 36900 as then in effect. A fourth and subsequent violation within any twelve-month period shall be punished as a misdemeanor as provided by state law. (Ord. 554 § 2 (part), 1997)