§ 54-83. Suspension and revocation.

(a)

No solicitor's permit shall be issued to any person who has been found guilty of a misdemeanor involving violence or moral turpitude any time within five years prior to the date of application, nor shall a permit be issued to any person convicted of a felony, except that a permit may be issued to a convicted felon if it appears that he either has been pardoned, or that he has been free from any legal restrictions for a period of five or more years prior to the date of his application. For the purpose of this article, the terms "conviction" and "found guilty" shall be deemed to include verdicts or pleas of guilty, or pleas of nolo contendere, entered by a court of this state, a court of a sister state, or any federal district court; any permit issued as the result of willful false statements or omissions in the solicitor's application for the permit shall be deemed null and void from the time of its issue.

(b)

The permit of any solicitor charged with a felony, or a misdemeanor involving violence or moral turpitude, shall be deemed suspended from the time of lawful arrest, formal accusation, or indictment, whichever shall first occur; said suspension shall remain in effect until the solicitor is convicted or acquitted, or until the charge is dismissed, "dead-docketed," "nolle prosed," or "no-billed."

(c)

The permit of any solicitor arrested or served with summons in regard to a violation of any provision of this article, which is alleged to have occurred after the date permit was issued shall be deemed suspended from the time he was arrested or served with summons; said suspension shall remain in effect until the solicitor is acquitted, or the case is dismissed.

(d)

The permit of any solicitor who is convicted of a felony, or of a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude or violence, shall be deemed revoked from the time of said conviction. The permit of any solicitor convicted of having violated any provision of this article after issuance of the permit shall be deemed revoked from the time of said conviction.

(e)

Any suspension or revocation occurring pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall be effective by operation of law, whether or not any formal notification to the solicitor is given or received.

(Code 1983, § 33-7-23)