(1)    Investigations.

      (a)    Initiated by department. The department may perform investigations to aid in the enforcement of this subchapter and rules promulgated under this subchapter.

      (b)    Initiated by public. Any person may file a written notice with the department, requesting the department to investigate an alleged violation of this subchapter or rules promulgated under this subchapter or a dangerous condition involving a conveyance. The notice shall set forth the specific grounds for the request and shall be signed by the person filing the notice. Upon request of the person filing the notice, the department shall keep the person’s name confidential and shall withhold the name from public inspection under s. 19.35 (1), except that the department may disclose the name to a law enforcement officer for official purposes. If the department determines that there are reasonable grounds to believe that the alleged violation or dangerous condition exists, the department shall investigate to determine if the alleged violation or dangerous condition exists. If the department determines that there are no such reasonable grounds, the department shall notify the person filing the notice.

   (2)   Orders of the department. The department may issue orders to enforce this subchapter and rules promulgated under this subchapter.

   (3)   Penalties. Any person who violates this subchapter or rules promulgated under this subchapter may be fined not more than $1,500 or imprisoned for not more than 30 days or both, except that, notwithstanding s. 939.61 (1), the owner of a private residence in which a conveyance is located may not be fined or required to pay a forfeiture to this state as a result of any violation involving that conveyance.