§ 69-24-25. Violations; notice; hearings; penalties; warnings; injunctive relief

MS Code § 69-24-25 (2019) (N/A)
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(1) If it shall appear from the examination of any soil or plant amendment that any of the provisions of this chapter or the rules and regulations issued thereunder have been violated, the commissioner shall cause notice of the violations to be given to the registrant, distributor, or possessor from whom said sample was taken. Any person so notified shall be given opportunity to be heard under such rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the commissioner and State Chemist. If it appears after such hearing, either in the presence or absence of the person so notified, that any of the provisions of this chapter or rules and regulations issued thereunder have been violated, the commissioner and State Chemist may certify the facts to the proper prosecuting attorney.

(2) Any person convicted of violating any provision of this chapter or the rules and regulations issued thereunder shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and punished as provided for in Section 99-19-31. Appeals from convictions under this subsection shall be as in other cases at law.

(3) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as requiring the commissioner, State Chemist or their representative to report for prosecution or for the institution of seizure proceedings as a result of minor violations of the chapter when they believe that the public interests will be best served by a suitable notice of warning in writing.

(4) It shall be the duty of each prosecuting attorney to whom any violation is reported to cause appropriate proceedings to be instituted and prosecuted in a court of competent jurisdiction without delay.

(5) The commissioner is hereby authorized to apply for and the court to grant a temporary or permanent injunction restraining any person from violating or continuing to violate any of the provisions of this chapter or any rule or regulation promulgated under the chapter notwithstanding the existence of other remedies at law. Said injunction shall be issued without bond.