(a)(1) Any law enforcement officer or employee of the Department of Public Safety to whom law enforcement authority has been designated who observes a motor vehicle being operated upon a public road of the state shall be authorized to stop the vehicle and weigh, measure, and inspect such vehicle when he or she has reason to believe that:

(A) Any provision of this article is being violated;

(B) The vehicle is improperly licensed in violation of Code Sections 40-2-150 through 40-2-162; or

(C) A fuel tax registration card is not being carried or that a proper distinguishing identification marker is not affixed to the vehicle in violation of Code Section 48-9-39.

(2) Any local law enforcement officer observing a motor vehicle being operated upon a public road within the jurisdiction where he or she has authority to enforce the motor vehicle and traffic laws who has reason to believe the vehicle weight limitations of this article have been violated shall be authorized to stop such vehicle and weigh, measure, or inspect the same, provided that such law enforcement officer has been properly trained regarding the laws governing commercial motor vehicle weight and load, equivalent to training provided to certified officers in the Motor Carrier Compliance Enforcement Section.

(b)(1) If the operator of the vehicle shall refuse to stop upon proper order as directed by a person authorized by subsection (a) of this Code section to stop, weigh, measure, or inspect the vehicle or its load, the operator shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine not to exceed $200.00. The operator shall have the right to post an appropriate bond, which shall not exceed $400.00, when any law enforcement officer or employee of the Department of Public Safety authorized to enforce this article apprehends said operator for any violation of this article.

(2) In addition, the operator’s driver’s license or nonresident’s driving privilege may be suspended for a period of not more than 90 days by the Department of Driver Services upon satisfactory proof of said refusal to stop or drive the vehicle upon the scales. Each person who shall apply for a Georgia driver’s license, or for nonresident driving privileges, or for a renewal of same thereby consents to stop such vehicle for inspection or to drive such vehicle upon scales whenever so ordered by a law enforcement officer or authorized employee of the Department of Public Safety.

(c) Any violation found relating to licensing or fuel tax registration and identification requirements pursuant to this Code section shall be reported to the Department of Revenue by the officer or employee observing such violation.