(a) As used in this Code section, the term “dealer” means any person who is engaged, in whole or in part, in the business of selling, exchanging, renting with an option to purchase, or offering an interest in motor vehicles for commission or with intent to make a profit or gain of money or other thing of value, whether or not such motor vehicles are owned by such person, and demonstrates an annual motor vehicle sales history of at least five motor vehicle sales as identified by department records or documentation approved by the department.

(b) Any dealer of new or used motor vehicles shall issue a temporary operating permit without charge or fee to the purchaser of a vehicle at the time of sale thereof, unless such vehicle is to be registered under the International Registration Plan or such dealer is one whose primary business is the sale of salvage motor vehicles and other vehicles on which total loss claims have been paid by insurers. Such temporary operating permit shall be of a standard design prescribed the department; provided, however, that such permit shall not resemble a license plate issued by this state. A temporary operating permit may bear the name of the dealer and location and shall include an expiration date which shall be 45 days from the date of purchase. The expiration date of a temporary operating permit may be revised and extended by the county tag agent upon application by the dealer, purchaser, or transferee if an extension of the purchaser’s initial registration period has been granted as provided by Code Section 40-2-20.

(c)(1) The department may provide by rule or regulation for the sale and distribution of temporary operating permits to dealers by third parties through the development and maintenance of an electronic temporary operating permit issuance system and establish standards for distribution and issuance of such permits. The department may further provide by rule or regulation for standards for authorized access to an electronic temporary operating permit issuance system, which may include, but shall not be limited to, required criminal background checks for any user of the system. Any third party authorized to sell and distribute temporary operating permits shall maintain an inventory record of such permits by number and name of the dealer.

(2)(A) The department shall be authorized to suspend access to the electronic temporary operating permit issuance system established pursuant to this Code section for any dealer found to have issued temporary operating permits for a vehicle which has not been sold or intended to be registered or otherwise violated requirements for issuance of such permits established by rule or regulation of the department after issuance of notice of such violation by electronic means and opportunity for informal review as set forth in this subparagraph. Any dealer who has received notice pursuant to this subsection of an alleged violation and for whom the department intends to suspend access to the electronic temporary operating permit issuance system may request an informal review of the allegations with the department. The method for making such request shall be developed by the department and may be by electronic means. Upon receipt of such request for informal review, the department shall, within ten business days, schedule an informal conference with such dealer to review the suspected violations. Proceedings under this subparagraph shall not be governed by any formal procedural requirements and may be conducted in such manner as the department may establish by rule or regulation. The department shall consider the historical use of the electronic temporary operating permit issuance system by the dealer under consideration for access suspension, together with other pertinent information which may be available, and shall render a decision regarding access to the electronic temporary operating permit issuance system within seven business days of the informal conference. Upon a finding that such dealer violated the requirements of this Code section or rules and regulations of the department, the department shall be authorized to impose fines or fees as provided by law. The department shall not be authorized to suspend access to the temporary operating permit system unless the department finds a dealer to be substantially out of compliance with the requirements of this Code section or the rules and regulations of the department and such dealer has failed to produce satisfactory evidence of extenuating circumstances to justify such noncompliance.

(B) If the department suspends a dealer’s access to the electronic temporary operating permit issuance system established pursuant to this Code section after an informal review held pursuant to subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, the suspended dealer shall have the right to a formal hearing to review the suspension pursuant to Code Section 40-3-6. Such hearing shall be held within 30 days of the department’s decision to suspend the dealer’s access to the electronic temporary operating permit issuance system and shall be conducted in accordance with Chapter 13 of Title 50, the “Georgia Administrative Procedure Act.” At such hearing, the department may present evidence of any instances in which the suspended dealer unlawfully issued temporary operating permits or issued fraudulent temporary operating permits. Upon a finding that the suspended dealer is in compliance with the requirements of this Code section and has issued temporary operating permits predominantly for bona fide motor vehicle sales, the department shall provide for the immediate restoration of access to the electronic temporary operating permit issuance system for such dealer but shall be authorized to impose fines or fees as provided by law for failure to comply with the requirements of this chapter. Upon a finding that the suspended dealer violated the requirements of this Code section or rules and regulations of the department, the department shall be authorized to extend the term of suspension for a period of up to 24 months. Upon a finding that a dealer has unlawfully issued temporary operating permits in violation of this chapter or rules and regulations of the department, the department shall further be authorized to issue a civil monetary penalty in an amount no greater than $100.00 per violation, suspend or revoke the registration issued to a dealer pursuant to Code Section 40-2-39, and suspend, confiscate, or limit issuance of any dealer plates issued pursuant to Code Section 40-2-38 for a period of up to 24 months. The department shall comply with Chapter 13 of Title 50, the “Georgia Administrative Procedure Act,” in relation to the expedited review provided for in this subparagraph and the suspended dealer shall have the right to appeal any decision of the department in accordance with such chapter.

(d) The commissioner is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations necessary to effectuate the provisions of this Code section.