Any attorney who shall, except for the purpose of applying for certificate of authority as herein provided, exchange any contracts of indemnity of the kind and character specified in this article, or directly or indirectly solicit or negotiate any applications for same, without first complying with the foregoing provisions, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than one hundred ($100) dollars nor more than one thousand ($1,000) dollars.
40 P.S. § 971