Hearing, illegal manufacture, importation, or sale of liquor

The liquor commission or liquor control adjudication board may assess and collect a penalty, or reprimand a person for not having a valid license to manufacture or sell any liquor in violation of this chapter or of any rule or regulation applicable thereto. In every case where the administrator elects to conduct proceedings under this section where it is proposed to assess and collect a penalty from a person for not having a valid license to manufacture or sell any liquor in violation of this chapter or of any rule or regulation applicable thereto, that person shall be entitled to notice and hearing in conformity with chapter 91. At the hearing, before final action is taken by the commission or board, the person shall be entitled to be heard in person or through counsel and shall be given a full and fair opportunity to present facts showing that the alleged cause or causes for the proposed action do not exist, or any reason why no penalty should be imposed. The testimony taken at the hearing shall be under oath and recorded stenographically, or by machine, but the parties shall not be bound by the strict rules of evidence; certified copies of any transcript and of any other record made of or at the hearing shall be furnished to a person upon that person's request and at that person's expense. Any order, reprimand, or penalty imposed by the commission or board upon a person for not having a valid license to manufacture or sell any liquor in violation of this chapter or of any rule or regulation applicable thereto shall be in addition to any penalty that might be imposed upon that person's conviction in a court of law for any violation of this chapter. The amount of penalty assessed and collected by the commission or board from any person under this section for not having a valid license to manufacture or sell any liquor shall not exceed the sum of $2,000 for each charge. Whenever the service of any order or notice shall be required by this section, the service shall be made in the following manner: in the case of any violation based upon the personal observation of any investigator, a written notice of the violation shall be given to the person charged with a violation within a reasonable period of time after the alleged violation occurred, the person charged shall be requested to acknowledge receipt of the alleged violation, or, if the person cannot be found after diligent search, by leaving a certified copy thereof at the person's dwelling house or usual place of abode with some person of suitable age and discretion residing therein; and if the person cannot be found after diligent search, and service cannot be made, then service may be made by depositing another certified copy thereof in the certified mail of the United States post office, postage prepaid, addressed to the person at the person's last known residence address; provided, that in the case of a partnership, corporation, unincorporated association, or limited liability company, service may be made upon any partner, officer, or member thereof.