§329-35 Order to show cause. (a) If, upon examination of the application for registration from any applicant and other information gathered by the department regarding the applicant, the administrator is unable to make the determinations required by the applicable provisions of sections 329-32 and 329-33 and applicable rules to register the applicant, the administrator shall serve upon the applicant an order to show cause why the registration should not be denied.

(b) If, upon information gathered by the department regarding any registrant, the administrator determines that the registration of a registrant warrants suspension or revocation pursuant to section 329-34 or applicable rules, the department shall serve upon the registrant an order to show cause why the registration should not be revoked or suspended.

(c) The order to show cause shall call upon the applicant or registrant to:

(1) Appear before the department at a time and place stated in the order, which shall not be less than thirty days after the date of receipt of the order, to admit to the allegations in the order to show cause; or

(2) Request a hearing as provided in subsection (d).

The order to show cause shall also contain a statement of the legal basis for such hearing and the reasons that support the administrator's intent to deny the application, or the revocation or suspension of registration, and a summary of the matters of fact and law asserted.

(d) Upon receipt of an order to show cause, the applicant or registrant, if the registrant or applicant desires a hearing, shall file a request for a hearing with the department within thirty days after service of the order to show cause. Failure to request a hearing shall result in the automatic termination of the registrant's registration and in the case of a new application or renewal the unprocessed application shall be returned to the applicant.

(e) Notwithstanding subsections (a) to (d), [the] department of public safety may suspend any registration simultaneously with the institution of proceedings under section 329-34, or where renewal of registration is refused, if it finds that there is an imminent danger to the public health or safety which warrants this action. The suspension shall continue in effect until the conclusion of the proceedings, including judicial review thereof, unless sooner withdrawn by the department of public safety or dissolved by a court of competent jurisdiction.

(f) The department of public safety may subpoena and examine witnesses under oath upon all such charges as may be referred before it. [L 1972, c 10, pt of §1; am L 1986, c 214, §5; am L 1990, c 281, §10; am L 2010, c 123, §5]