Just because someone you read about received a small fine it doesn't mean that you'll get the same fine. The maximum penalty may be much larger, and it helps to know what it could be. However, even such a small penalty may have to be reported on licensing applications to other states, and a second violation will almost certainly involve much more serious penalties. Except in special circumstances, most documents connected with fines and orders will be publicly available at the regulator's office and may even be published in regulatory or trade publications. If you do not resolve the problem amicably with the regulator, the regulator will set the matter for a hearing.
Some agents fail to understand the seriousness of a hearing.
It is very much like going to court for a violation. The prosecutor will have received the case from an investigator, and the investigator may be a chief witness. Since the prosecutor will be prepared regarding the facts and knowledgeable regarding the laws of insurance, you need to bring factual evidence and you will usually want to have a lawyer present who understands the insurance regulations. Often, the hearing will seem more informal than a trial at the courthouse, but the end result could be just as devastating for you if you lose. Many agents who are the subject of regulatory hearings are not bad people.