Administrative fines and warning letters.

(1) If a person violates this chapter or any rule adopted under this chapter or a cease and desist order, the department may impose civil or administrative penalties in the Class II category pursuant to s. 570.971 not to exceed $3,000 for each offense, suspend or revoke the license or qualification issued to such person, or any of the foregoing. The cost of the proceedings to enforce this chapter may be added to any penalty imposed. The department may allow the licensee a reasonable period, not to exceed 90 days, within which to pay to the department the amount of the penalty so imposed. If the licensee fails to pay the penalty in its entirety to the department at its office at Tallahassee within the period so allowed, the licenses of the licensee shall stand revoked upon expiration of such period.

(2) If any license expires while administrative charges are pending against the license, the proceedings against the license shall continue to conclusion as if the license were still in effect.

(3) In lieu of an administrative or civil penalty in subsection (1) of this section, the department may issue a warning letter to the licenseholder, master qualifier, qualifier, or any person for a first violation.

(4) All such fines, monetary penalties, and costs received by the department shall be deposited in the General Inspection Trust Fund for the purpose of administering the provisions of this chapter.