Section 12-612 - Denials, reprimands, suspensions, and revocations.

§ 12-612. Denials, reprimands, suspensions, and revocations.
 

(a)  Grounds.- Subject to the hearing provisions of § 12-613 of this subtitle, the State Fire Marshal may deny a certificate to an applicant, refuse to renew a certificate, reprimand a certificate holder, suspend or revoke a certificate, or impose a civil penalty not exceeding $1,000 if the applicant or certificate holder: 

(1) fraudulently or deceptively obtains or attempts to obtain a certificate for the applicant or another; 

(2) fraudulently or deceptively uses the certificate; 

(3) engages in an unfair or deceptive trade practice, as defined in § 13-301 of the Commercial Law Article; 

(4) willfully or deliberately disregards or violates a building code, electrical code, or law of the State or a local jurisdiction; 

(5) while not certified, solicits to engage in or willfully engages in providing electrical inspection services; 

(6) while not certified, willfully advertises as a certified nongovernmental electrical inspector; 

(7) willfully makes a false statement or misrepresentation in any renewal application or in any other document that the State Fire Marshal requires to be submitted; or 

(8) violates any other provision of this subtitle or any regulation adopted by the State Fire Marshal under this subtitle. 

(b)  Penalty; considerations.- In determining the appropriate penalty to be imposed under subsection (a) of this section, the State Fire Marshal shall consider: 

(1) the gravity of the violation; 

(2) the good faith of the violator; 

(3) the number and gravity of previous violations by the same violator; 

(4) the harm caused to the complainant, the public, and the electrical inspector profession; 

(5) the assets of the violator; and 

(6) any other factors that the State Fire Marshal considers relevant. 
 

[2010, ch. 127.]