(2) The department may waive any penalty provided by subsection (1) of this section that is imposed after January 1, 1998, if the department determines that there was reasonable cause for the failure to hold a valid user’s license or display a valid authorization or user’s emblem issued by the department and finds that there was no intent to avoid payment. [1959 c.188 §8; 1977 c.429 §4; 1997 c.275 §2; 1999 c.769 §13]