(a) Any person who violates any provision of this article shall be liable for a civil penalty not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000) per vehicle.
(b) Any action to recover a penalty under this section shall be brought in the name of the people of the State of California in the superior court of the county where the violation occurred, or in the county where the defendant’s residence or principal place of business is located, by the Attorney General on behalf of the state board, in which event all penalties adjudged by the court shall be deposited in the Air Pollution Control Fund, or by the district attorney or county attorney of such county, or by the city attorney of a city in that county, in which event all penalties adjudged by the court shall be deposited with the treasurer of the county or city, as the case may be.