If any hotel operator fails to collect the tax authorized by this article and levied pursuant to this article or fails to properly remit such tax to the taxing authority, he shall be personally liable for such amount as he failed to collect or remit: provided, that such hotel operator shall not be held liable for failure to collect such tax if the hotel operator can by good and substantial evidence prove the refusal of the purchaser to pay this tax despite the diligent effort in good faith of the hotel operator to collect the tax.
(1960 Code 5-508)