Section 10-1-791. Consumer fees to implement provisions of article; enforcement

   (a) A fee of $3.00 shall be collected by the new motor vehicle dealer from the consumer at completion of a sale or execution of a lease of each new motor vehicle. The fee shall be forwarded quarterly to the Office of Planning and Budget for deposit in the new motor vehicle arbitration account created in the state treasury. The payments are due and payable the first day of the month in each quarter for the previous quarter's collection and shall be mailed by the new motor vehicle dealer not later than the twentieth day of such month. The first day of the month in each quarter is July 1, October 1, January 1, and April 1 for each year. Consumer fees in the account shall be used for the purposes of this article. Funds in excess of the appropriated amount remaining in the new motor vehicle arbitration account at the end of each fiscal year shall be transferred to the general treasury. The new motor vehicle dealer shall retain $1.00 of each fee collected to cover administrative costs.

(b) The administrator appointed pursuant to subsection (g) of Code Section 10-1-395 shall have the power to enforce the provisions of this Code section. The administrator's enforcement power shall include:

   (1) The authority to investigate alleged violations through use of all investigative powers available under Part 2 of Article 15 of this chapter, the "Fair Business Practices Act"; and

   (2) The authority to initiate proceedings, pursuant to Code Section 10-1-397, in the event of a violation of this Code section. Such proceedings include, without limitation, issuance of a cease and desist order, a civil penalty order imposing a civil penalty up to a maximum of $2,000.00 for each violation, and proceedings to seek additional relief in any superior court of competent jurisdiction. The provisions of Code Sections 10-1-398, 10-1-398.1, 10-1-402, and 10-1-405 shall apply to proceedings initiated by the administrator under this Code section.

Code 1981, § 10-1-791, enacted by Ga. L. 2008, p. 746, § 1/HB 470.