Section 2-11-34. Penalty for violations of article or rules and regulations; Commissioner authorized to utilize warning for minor violations

   (a) Any person or vendor violating any of the provisions of this article or rules and regulations promulgated under this article shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

(b) When the Commissioner or any of the Commissioner's authorized agents find that a person has violated any of the provisions of this article or rules and regulations promulgated under this article, the Commissioner may institute proceedings in the superior court of the county in which the violation occurred to have such person convicted therefor or may file with the prosecuting attorney, with the view of prosecution, such evidence as may be deemed necessary.

(c) It shall be the duty of each prosecuting attorney to whom any violation is reported to cause appropriate proceedings to be instituted and prosecuted against the accused.

(d) Nothing in this article shall be construed as requiring the Commissioner or any of the Commissioner's authorized agents to report, for prosecution or for the institution of seizure proceedings, minor violations of this article when the Commissioner believes that the public interest will best be served by a suitable notice of warning in writing.

Ga. L. 1941, p. 497, § 7; Ga. L. 1956, p. 217, § 11; Ga. L. 1996, p. 1151, § 1.