(a) It shall be cause for the department to revoke a sign permit or refuse to issue a sign permit if any of the department's property on the rights of way, including but not limited to trees, vegetation, or fences, is destroyed, damaged, converted, or altered by or on behalf of a person, firm, or corporation who owns, erects, maintains, leases, or uses any sign which is controlled by this part. When the department believes that any of the aforesaid property has been destroyed, damaged, converted, or altered, the department shall make a preliminary investigation and based on its findings may:

(1) Revoke the permit or permits of any owner of a sign or signs if the department determines that the person, firm, or corporation who owns the land or who owns, erects, maintains, leases, or uses the sign or signs caused, hired, procured, or consciously or by design consented to any of the illegal acts described in this paragraph at or near the sign site, thereby depriving the sign owner of the permit to use that site; or

(2) Refuse to issue a permit or permits for a sign site or sites for a period not to exceed five years if the department determines that the applicant has caused, hired, procured, or consciously or by design consented to any of the illegal acts described in this subsection on the department's rights of way within 500 feet on either side of that sign site or sites.

(b) Before the actions listed in paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of this Code section may be taken, the department shall give 30 days' written notice via certified mail or statutory overnight delivery to the permit holder; and this notice shall apprise the permit holder of a hearing that will be held in accordance with Code Sections 50-13-13 through 50-13-18. If the action described in paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of this Code section is taken, the department shall state this in its refusal to issue a permit, and the applicant shall have the right to an administrative review of this action as provided by Code Sections 50-13-13 through 50-13-18.