Every person violates a section, subsection, subparagraph or provision of this chapter when he performs an act thereby prohibited or declared unlawful, or fails to act when such failure is thereby prohibited or declared unlawful, or performs an act prohibited or declared unlawful or fails to act when such failure is prohibited or declared unlawful by a code adopted by reference by this chapter and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished as for a misdemeanor except as otherwise stated in specific provisions hereof. (1976 Code)