(a) Contested cases involving the processing of a permit during the time period set out in §75.41 of this title (relating to Processing Permits for Automobile Clubs) will range from four to eight months to complete all necessary hearings. The starting time for a contested case is when the department receives a written request for a hearing, and the ending time is when the decision is final and appealable.(b) If an individual person or entity who is a party to the hearing takes action which causes an unnecessary delay in the department's conduct of the hearing, the time utilized by the person or entity is not included in the time covered by this section.