Section 12. (a) Whoever knowingly employs for hire as a motor vehicle operator any person not licensed in accordance with this chapter shall be punished for a first offense by a fine of not more than $1,000 and, for a second or subsequent offense, by a fine of not less than $1,000 nor more than $1,500 or imprisonment in the house of correction for not more than 1 year, or both such fine and imprisonment.

(b) Whoever, being the owner or person in control of a motor vehicle, knowingly permits such motor vehicle to be operated by a person who is unlicensed or whose license has been suspended or revoked shall be punished for a first offense by a fine of not more than $1,000 or by imprisonment in a house of correction for not more than 1 year or, for a second or subsequent offense by a fine of not less than $1,000 and not more than $1,500 or imprisonment in a house of correction for not more than 2 1/2 years, or both such fine and imprisonment.

(c) Whoever knowingly permits a motor vehicle owned by him or under his control, which is not equipped with a functioning ignition interlock device, to be operated by a person who has an ignition interlock restricted license shall be punished by 1 year in the house of correction and a fine of not more than $500 for a first offense or, for a second or subsequent offense by a fine of not more than $1,000 or imprisonment in a house of correction for not more than 2 1/2 years, or both. For the purposes of this section the term ''certified ignition interlock device'' shall mean an alcohol breath screening device that prevents a vehicle from starting if it detects a blood alcohol concentration over a preset limit of.02 or 20 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood.

(d) The registrar may suspend for not more than 1 year the motor vehicle registration of a vehicle used in the commission of a violation of this section or the license or right to operate of the person who commits a violation of this section, or both.