Grounds for issuance of special permits

(1) (a) A special event permit may be issued under this section notwithstanding the fact that the special event is to be held on premises licensed under the provisions of section 44-3-403, 44-3-404, 44-3-413 (3), 44-3-418, 44-3-419, or 44-3-424. The holder of a special event permit issued pursuant to this subsection (1) is responsible for any violation of this article 5 or articles 3 or 4 of this title 44. (b) If a violation of this article 5 or article 3 of this title 44 occurs during a special event festival and the responsible licensee can be identified, the state or local licensing authority may charge and impose appropriate penalties on the licensee. If the responsible licensee cannot be identified, the state licensing authority may send written notice to every licensee identified on the permit applications and may fine each the same dollar amount. The fine shall not exceed twenty-five dollars per licensee or two hundred dollars in the aggregate. A joint fine levied pursuant to this subsection (1)(b) does not apply to the revocation of a licensee's license under section 44-3-601. (2) Nothing in this article 5 shall be construed to prohibit the sale or dispensing of malt, vinous, or spirituous liquors on any closed street, highway, or public byway for which a special event permit has been issued.