(1) Every person, firm or corporation, or agents or employees thereof, who knowingly violates any of this part, on conviction, commits a Class A misdemeanor. If the violation is by an owner or major stockholder and/or managing partner of the pawnshop, and the violation is knowingly committed by the owner, major stockholder or managing partner of the pawnshop, then the license of the pawnbroker or pawnbrokers may be suspended or revoked at the discretion of the city or county clerk.
(2) Subsection (a) does not apply to violations of § 45-6-212(7) relating to the taking of any article in pawn, pledge or as security under any buy-sell agreement from any person that is known to the pawnbroker to be stolen. Any violation under § 45-6-212(7) shall be prosecuted pursuant to § 39-14-103.