Title 4, Chapter 4, Section 179
( 4-4-179)
(a) The Commissioner, in order to enforce this article or any
orders, rules, or regulations promulgated pursuant to this article,
may issue an administrative order imposing a penalty not to exceed
$1,000.00 for each violation whenever the Commissioner, after a
hearing, determines that any person has violated any provision of
this article or any quarantines, orders, rules, or regulations
promulgated pursuant to this article. (b) The initial hearing and any administrative review thereof shall
be conducted in accordance with the procedure for contested cases in
Chapter 13 of Title 50, the "Georgia Administrative Procedure Act."
Any person who has exhausted all administrative remedies available
and who is aggrieved or adversely affected by any final order or
action of the Commissioner shall have the right of judicial review
thereof in accordance with Chapter 13 of Title 50. All penalties
recovered by the Commissioner as provided for in this article shall
be paid into the state treasury. The Commissioner may file in the
superior court wherein the person under order resides or, if said
person is a corporation, in the county wherein the corporation
maintains its principal place of business or in the county wherein
the violation occurred a certified copy of a final order of the
Commissioner unappealed from or of a final order of the department
affirmed upon appeal, whereupon said court shall render judgment in
accordance therewith and notify the parties. Such judgment shall
have the same effect, and all proceedings in relation thereto shall
thereafter be the same, as though said judgment had been rendered in
an action duly heard and determined by said court. The penalty
prescribed in this Code section shall be concurrent, alternative, or
cumulative with any and all other civil, criminal, or alternative
rights, remedies, forfeitures, or penalties provided, allowed, or
available to the Commissioner with respect to any violation of this
article and any quarantines, orders, rules, or regulations
promulgated pursuant thereto. |