Section 40-16-6. Civil monetary penalties

   (a) To the extent specifically authorized by law, the commissioner may pursuant to rule or regulation specify and impose civil monetary penalties for violations of laws, rules, and regulations administered by the commissioner. Except as may be hereafter authorized by law, the maximum amount of any such monetary penalty shall not exceed the maximum penalty authorized by law or rule or regulation for the same violation immediately prior to July 1, 2005.

(b) All proceedings for the imposition of civil monetary penalties by the commissioner and other contested cases to be decided by or under authority of the commissioner shall be subject to Chapter 13 of Title 50, the "Georgia Administrative Procedure Act." All such administrative proceedings which are pending on July 1, 2005, under laws the administration of which is transferred from the commissioner of motor vehicle safety to another enforcement agency shall be transferred to the jurisdiction of such other enforcement agency as of July 1, 2005.

(c) The amendment of this chapter and the Act by which it is amended shall not affect or abate the status as a crime of any act or omission which occurred prior to July 1, 2005, nor shall the prosecution of such crime be abated as a result of such amendment.

Code 1981, § 40-16-6, enacted by Ga. L. 2000, p. 951, § 1-1; Ga. L. 2002, p. 415, § 40; Ga. L. 2003, p. 177, § 5; Ga. L. 2005, p. 334, § 1-1/HB 501.