If, after notice and a hearing, the commissioner finds that any person has violated any provision of this division or of any regulation or order issued under this division, the commissioner may order the person to pay to the commissioner a civil penalty in that amount as the commissioner may specify. However, the amount of the civil penalty shall not exceed two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) for each violation, or in the case of a continuing violation, two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) for each day for which the violation continues.