1. Definitions. As used in this section:

1. (a) "Drivers' school" means the business of giving instruction for hire in driving motor vehicles or motorcycles.
2. (b) "Person" includes an individual, firm, corporation, partnership, joint venture, joint adventurer or association.
3. (c) "Place of business" means a designated location at which the business of a drivers' school is transacted and its records kept.

4. Refusal to issue a license. The commissioner may deny the application of any person for a license, if, in his discretion, he determines that:

1. (a) Such applicant has made a material false statement or concealed a material fact in connection with his application;
2. (b) Such applicant, any officer, director, stockholder or partner, or any other person directly or indirectly interested in the business was the former holder, or was an officer, director, stockholder or partner, in a corporation or partnership which was the former holder of a drivers' school license which was revoked or suspended by the commissioner;
3. (c) Such applicant or any officer, director, stockholder, partner, employee, or any other person directly or indirectly interested in the business has been convicted of a felony, or of any crime involving violence, dishonesty, deceit, indecency, degeneracy or moral turpitude;
4. (d) Such applicant has failed to furnish satisfactory evidence of good character, reputation and fitness;
5. (e) Such applicant does not have a place of business as required by this section;
6. (f) Such applicant is not the true owner of the drivers' school.

5. Suspension, revocation and refusal to renew a license. The commissioner, or any employee of the department of motor vehicles deputized by him, may suspend or revoke a license or refuse to issue a renewal thereof for any of the following causes:

1. (a) the conviction of the licensee or any partner, officer, agent or employee of such licensee, of a felony, or of any crime involving violence, dishonesty, deceit, indecency, degeneracy or moral turpitude; (b) where the licensee has made a material false statement or concealed a material fact in connection with his application for a license or a renewal thereof; (c) where the licensee has failed to comply with any of the provisions of this section or any of the rules and regulations of the commissioner made pursuant thereto: (d) where the licensee or any partner, officer, agent or employee of such licensee has been guilty of fraud or fraudulent practices in relation to the business conducted under the license, or guilty of inducing another to resort to fraud or fraudulent practices in relation to securing for himself or another a license to drive a motor vehicle or motorcycle. The term "fraudulent practices" as used in this section shall include, but shall not be limited to, any conduct or representation on the part of the licensee, or any partner, officer, agent, or employee of a licensee, tending to induce another or to give the impression that a license to operate a motor vehicle or motorcycle, or any other license, registration or service granted by the commissioner, may be obtained by any means other than the ones prescribed by law, or furnishing or obtaining the same by illegal or improper means, or requesting, accepting, exacting or collecting money for such purpose. Notwithstanding the renewal of a license, the commissioner may revoke or suspend such license for causes and violations, as prescribed by this section, occurring during the two license periods immediately preceding the renewal of such license. The commissioner, or any person deputized by him, in addition to or in lieu of revoking or suspending a license to conduct a driving school in accordance with the provisions of this section, may by order require the licensee to pay to the people of this state a penalty in a sum not exceeding five hundred dollars for each violation, and upon the failure of such licensee to pay such penalty within twenty days after the mailing of such order, postage prepaid, registered or certified, and addressed to the last known place of business of such licensee, unless such order is stayed by a court of competent jurisdiction or in accordance with the provisions of article three-A of this chapter, the commissioner may revoke the license of such licensee or may suspend the same for such period as he may determine. Civil penalties assessed under this subdivision shall be paid to the commissioner for deposit into the state treasury, and unpaid civil penalties may be recovered by the commissioner in a civil action in the name of the commissioner. In addition, as an alternative to such civil action, and provided that no proceeding for judicial review shall then be pending and the time for initiation of such proceeding shall have expired, the commissioner may file with the county clerk of the county in which the licensee is located a final order of the commissioner containing the amount of the penalty assessed. The filing of such final order shall have the full force and effect of a judgment duly docketed in the office of such clerk and may be enforced in the same manner and with the same effect as that provided by law in respect to executions issued against property upon judgments of a court of record.

(c)

1. (i) Any person who operates a drivers' school while his drivers' school license is revoked or suspended, shall pay to the people of this state a civil penalty in the sum of one thousand dollars. Such civil penalty may not be avoided.
2. (ii) Any person who operates a drivers' school without being licensed as required by subdivision two of this section who has previously had a civil penalty assessed for unlicensed operation shall pay to the people of this state a civil penalty in the sum of one thousand dollars. Such civil penalty may not be avoided.