Any person violating the provisions of this chapter is guilty of an infraction and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars; provided, however, that any offense which would otherwise be an infraction is a misdemeanor if a defendant has been convicted of three or more violations of this chapter within the twelve-month period immediately preceding the commission of the offense and such prior convictions are admitted by the defendant or alleged in the accusatory pleading. For this purpose, a bail forfeiture shall be deemed a conviction of the offense charged. (Prior code § 8.52.050: Ord. 2411, 4/19/77)