(a) The judge may appoint one or more persons to serve at the pleasure of the judge as associate juvenile court traffic judges on a full-time or part-time basis. An associate juvenile court traffic judge shall be a member of the State Bar of Georgia or shall be otherwise qualified by experience and training. The compensation of the associate juvenile court traffic judges shall be fixed by the judge with the approval of the governing authority of the county and shall be paid in equal monthly installments from county funds, unless otherwise provided by law.

(b) The court may direct that any case or class of cases arising under Code Section 15-11-73 shall be heard in the first instance by an associate juvenile court traffic judge who shall conduct the hearing in accordance with Code Section 15-11-73. Upon the conclusion of the hearing, the associate juvenile court traffic judge shall file an order of the court with a copy thereof to the child and other parties to the proceedings.