Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 7563

The director, in lieu of suspending or revoking a license issued under this chapter for violations of Sections 7561.1, 7561.3, and 7561.4, may impose a civil penalty not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500) for the first violation, and one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each violation thereafter, upon a licensee, if the director determines that this action better serves the purposes of this chapter.