Section 10-1-269. Suspension or revocation of license or imposition of penalty by state fire marshal

   The state fire marshal, upon ten days' written notice in the form of a show cause order to the licensee stating his contemplated action and in general the grounds therefor and after giving the licensee a reasonable opportunity to be heard, subject to the right to review provided in Chapter 13 of Title 50, the "Georgia Administrative Procedure Act," may, by order in writing, suspend or revoke any license issued under this article or, in lieu thereof, may assess a penalty against said licensee in an amount not to exceed $1,000.00, if the state fire marshal shall find:

   (1) That the licensee has failed to pay the license fee or any fee required under this article or any penalty imposed under the article; or

   (2) That the licensee knowingly has violated any of the provisions of this article or any of the rules and regulations promulgated under this article; provided, however, that any such suspension or revocation or imposition of penalty shall not become final, pending and subject to the right of review provided in Chapter 13 of Title 50, but the court shall have and is granted power to enter such order as justice shall require pending hearing on the appeal; and provided, further, the court upon the appeal may tax the cost, including the cost of the hearing before the state fire marshal, against the losing party.

Ga. L. 1960, p. 143, § 2; Ga. L. 1990, p. 647, § 2; Ga. L. 1992, p. 2134, § 2.