{"data":{"id":"us-vt/6-v.s.a.-15","jurisdiction":"us-vt","citation":"6 V.S.A. § 15","heading":"Administrative penalties","body":"(a) In addition to other penalties provided by law, the Secretary may assess administrative penalties, not to exceed $5,000.00, for each violation of this title and Titles 9 and 20, unless a higher administrative penalty amount is otherwise provided for in Title 9 or Title 20.\n(b) In determining the amount of the penalty to be assessed under this section, the Secretary may give consideration to one or more of the following:\n(1) the degree of actual and potential impact on public health, safety, and welfare resulting from the violation;\n(2) the presence of mitigating or aggravating circumstances;\n(3) whether the violator has been warned or found in violation of the same provisions of law in the past;\n(4) the economic benefit gained by the violation;\n(5) the deterrent effect of the penalty; or\n(6) the financial condition of the violator.\n(c) Each violation may be a separate and distinct offense and, in the case of a continuing violation, each day’s continuance may be deemed to be a separate and distinct offense. In no event shall the maximum amount of the penalty assessed under this section exceed $50,000.00.\n(d) In addition to the administrative penalties authorized by this section, the Secretary may recover the costs of investigation, which shall be credited to a special fund and shall be available to the Agency to offset these costs.\n(e) Any party aggrieved by a final decision of the Secretary may appeal de novo to the Superior Court within 30 days of the final decision of the Secretary. The Secretary may enforce a final administrative penalty by filing a civil collection action in any District or Superior Court.","path":["Title 6: Agriculture","Chapter 001: General Powers; Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets"],"source_url":"https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/06/001/00015","current_through":"2025 session","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-05T12:41:21Z","sha256":"4ed590f072dc4be4be9be630f58e82299e4a11da4a995f2483d2a8410ee8f36a","source_id":"us-vt","stale":false,"prev":"us-vt/6-v.s.a.-14","next":"us-vt/6-v.s.a.-16"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}