Four separate pesticide drift incidents this year sickened over 150 workers. Now, farmworker advocates are pushing for stronger penalties.
After 92 people harvesting garlic in Bakersfield were sickened in a pesticide incident, the Kern County agricultural commissioner imposed just under $50,000 in fines against five companies.
Current law allows county agricultural commissioners to impose fines of up to $5,000 against growers, labor contractors and others who apply pesticides improperly.