12-9-54. Sale of vehicle.

No person shall sell any motor vehicle which is intended for highway use if such vehicle is at the time of the sale a responsible motor vehicle required to have a certificate of emission inspection under Code Section 12-9-45, unless there appears on such vehicle an unexpired valid certificate of emission inspection issued pursuant to this article. Any person violating this Code section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of $100.00 for a first offense, $500.00 for a second offense, and $1,000.00 for each subsequent offense. If, as a result of the sale of a responsible motor vehicle subject to any requirement under Code Section 12-9-45, such motor vehicle would not, if immediately registered by the purchaser as provided by law, be registered in a county in which the requirements of Code Section 12-9-45 are applicable, this Code section shall not apply.