It shall be unlawful for any person to distribute tobacco or tobacco products without first obtaining from the board the appropriate permit. Failure to obtain or display a valid permit by January 1, 1998, shall result in issuance of a warning citation. The board shall conduct an information and education campaign by its Responsible Vendor Program to inform distributors of tobacco products at retail or in vending machines or self-service displays of the requirements of this law. Failure to obtain or display a valid permit pursuant to this chapter after January 1, 1998, shall constitute a misdemeanor offense. Each violation for selling tobacco products without a valid permit shall be treated as a separate offense and be punishable as follows: For the first violation by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500) and for each subsequent violation by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) nor more than one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500).