§ 8A-124.25. Duties, functions, powers and responsibilities of Director.

The duties, functions, powers and responsibilities of the Director of the Department shall include, among others, the following:

(a)

Enforce all of the provisions of this article.

(b)

Upon receipt of complaints or upon the Director's initiative, investigate, inspect, sample, and test any matters regulated hereunder.

(c)

Institute civil actions or proceedings to enforce all the provisions of this article and subpoenae issued by the Director, including seeking mandatory and prohibitory injunctions, the imposition and recovery of civil penalties and such other remedies, recoveries, and attorneys fees as set forth in Section 8A-161.22. Such civil actions or proceedings may be instituted by the Director whether or not a cease and desist order or notice to correct the violation or other lawful order of the Director has been issued or other administrative proceeding is pending.

(d)

Prosecute through the State Attorney in the criminal courts for violations of this article.

(e)

Deny, revoke, suspend and issue licenses and impose conditions, limitations, and restrictions upon same in accordance with Section 8A-124.17 and 8A-124.2(e) of this Code. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no revocation or suspension of a license by the Director shall be effective until the rendition of the appeal, if any, of such revocation or suspension pursuant to Section 8A-161.23 of the Code of Miami-Dade County, Florida, or until the time period for filing such appeal has expired, whichever is later.

(f)

Issue subpoenae to compel the presence of any person or document or thing at any hearing, conference or proceeding authorized herein upon information or belief by the Director that a violation of any provision of this article has occurred or may occur.

(g)

Inquire into the practices, functions and policies of any and all motor vehicle title loan companies and make such recommendations to the Commission as the Director may deem necessary.

(h)

Administer oaths and certify official acts of the Director.

(i)

Investigate, upon the Director's initiative, the practices of any motor vehicle title loan company.

(j)

Apply to any judge of the circuit or county court, criminal or civil division, for the issuance of an administrative search warrant.

(k)

Conduct a program for monitoring consumer satisfaction levels in the field of motor vehicle title loan and make such monitoring information available to the Commission and the public.

(l)

Render, in the Director's discretion, assistance and technical advice to motor vehicle title loan companies.

(m)

Institute informal conferences for discussing and resolving any matter covered by this article.

(n)

Publish and disseminate information to the public concerning motor vehicle title loan.

(o)

Submit to the Commission proposed rules, regulations, and standards to effectuate the purposes of this article. No such proposed rules, regulations, and standards shall become effective until approved by the Commission by ordinance.

(p)

Provide motor vehicle title loan companies, at least annually, with information concerning the rules, regulations, and standards enacted during the immediate past year.

(q)

Issue cease and desist orders, notices to correct violations, and any other lawful orders of the Director which shall briefly set forth the general nature of the violation of this article and specify the time within which the violation shall be rectified or stopped. If an order to cease and desist or notice to correct violations or any other lawful order of the Director is not obeyed the Director shall have the power and authority to revoke or suspend the license, if any has been issued, or deny the issuance of a license, and take such other action authorized by this article. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no revocation or suspension of a registration by the Director shall be effective until the rendition of the appeal, if any, of such revocation or suspension pursuant to Section 8A-161.23 of the Code of Miami-Dade County, Florida, or until the time period for filing such appeal has expired, whichever is later. Orders to cease and desist, notices to correct violations, and any other lawful orders of the Director hereunder may be enforced by the institution by the Director of civil actions for mandatory and prohibitory injunctions, civil penalties and other remedies, recoveries, and attorneys fees as set forth in Section 8A-161.22 of the Code of Miami-Dade County in a court of competent jurisdiction.

(r)

Appoint and designate, in the Director's discretion, various technical advisory panels.

(s)

Enter into written assurances of compliance pursuant to Sections 8A-82.1 and 8A-124.21 of the Code of Miami-Dade County, Florida, with respect to the matters regulated under this article.

(t)

The powers of the Director enumerated in this article shall be in addition to and not a limitation of any other powers of the Director pursuant to any other provisions of this article or any other provisions of law or ordinance.

(Ord. No. 99-62, § 1, 6-8-99)