55-424. Duties of secretary; entry upon premises; samples collected; stop-sale order. (a) The secretary may examine and test the quality of such petroleum products sold, offered for sale, used or delivered by any manufacturer, importer, or distributor in this state.

(b) The secretary shall have access during business hours to enter all places where petroleum products are manufactured, stored, sold or offered for sale or resale for the purpose of examination, inspection, sampling or investigation of such petroleum products. Neither the secretary nor any authorized representative of the secretary shall be required to obtain a search warrant in order to perform any duty imposed by this section.

(c) The secretary may collect or cause to be collected any samples of petroleum products and test or cause such samples to be tested or analyzed for compliance with the provisions of this act or any rules and regulations adopted thereunder.

(d) Whenever the secretary finds any violation of this act or any rule and regulation adopted under this act has occurred, the secretary may issue a stop-sale order, removal order or any combination of such orders with respect to any petroleum product being manufactured, held, offered, or exposed for sale, sold or delivered if the secretary deems it necessary for the protection of the public.

(e) No person may sell, use, remove, otherwise dispose of, or fail to remove from the premises any petroleum product contrary to the terms of any order issued pursuant to this section.

History: L. 1935, ch. 210, § 3; L. 1941, ch. 278, § 2; L. 1989, ch. 163, § 3; L. 1993, ch. 58, § 3; July 1.