(a) A sealer shall cause to be removed from commercial usage any weighing, measuring, or counting instrument or device sold or used in violation of Section 12500.5. The instrument or device may be either seized or marked with a tag or other suitable device with the words “unapproved device”.

(b) Upon proof of compliance with Section 12500.5, the sealer shall remove the tag or device bearing the words “unapproved device”.

(c) If the owner or user of any weighing, measuring, or counting instrument or device marked “unapproved device” refused or neglected to have it brought into compliance with Section 12500.5 within 30 days after the instrument or device was so marked, it shall be subject to seizure by the sealer. Any instrument or device which has been seized by the sealer pursuant to this section shall be subject to disposition as ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction upon petition for a disposition order by the owner or by any person claiming an interest in the seized instrument or device. If no disposition order is issued within four years after the date of the seizure, that instrument or device shall be defaced, destroyed, or otherwise disposed of by the sealer. The sealer shall, immediately following the defacing, destruction, or disposal of that instrument or device, notify, in writing, the board of supervisors of the county in which the sealer is serving of that fact together with the name and address of the owner or user of the instrument or device.

(Amended by Stats. 1990, Ch. 77, Sec. 1.)