§21-9-12a. Violation of cease and desist order; penalties.

(a) Upon a determination that a person is engaging in business without a valid license as required under the provisions of section nine of this article, the board or commissioner may immediately issue a cease and desist order requiring the person to cease all operations within this state. After a hearing, the board may impose a penalty of not less than two hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars upon any person found to have been engaging in business in this state without a valid license as required under the provisions of section nine of this article.

(b) The board may institute proceedings in the circuit court of the county where the violation occurred, against any person violating a cease and desist order issued under the provisions of subsection (a) of this section.

(c) Any person continuing to engage in business in this state without a valid license as required under the provisions of section nine of this article, after the issuance of a cease and desist order under the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, is subject to the following penalties:

(1) For a first offense, a fine of not less than two hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars;

(2) For a second offense, a fine of not less than five hundred dollars nor more than five thousand dollars, or confinement in a county or regional jail for not less than thirty days nor more than six months or both a fine and confinement; and

(3) For a third or subsequent offense, a fine of not less than one thousand dollars nor more than five thousand dollars, and confinement in the county or regional jail for not less than thirty days nor more than one year.