33:1-35. Investigations, inspections, searches and examinations; examination of witnesses; subpoenas; procedure on failure to obey; powers of deputy directors

The Director of the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control and each other issuing authority may make, or cause to be made, such investigations as he or it shall deem proper in the administration of this chapter and of any and all other laws now or which may hereafter be in force and effect concerning alcoholic beverages, or the manufacture, distribution or sale thereof, or the collection of taxes thereon, including the inspection and search of premises for which the license is sought or has been issued, of any building containing the same, of licensed buildings, examination of the books, records, accounts, documents and papers of the licensees or on the licensed premises.

Every applicant for a license, and every licensee, and every director, officer, agent and employee of every licensee, shall, on demand, exhibit to the director or other issuing authority, as the case may be, or to his or its deputies or investigators, or inspectors or agents all of the matters and things which the director of the division or other issuing authority, as the case may be, is hereby authorized or empowered to investigate, inspect or examine, and to facilitate, as far as may be in their power so to do, in any such investigation, examination or inspection, and they shall not in any way hinder or delay or cause the hindrance or delay of same, in any manner whatsoever. Investigations, inspections and searches of licensed premises may be made without search warrant by the director, his deputies, inspectors or investigators, by each other issuing authority and by any officer.

For the purpose of any investigation, examination or inspection, revocation, rule to show cause and every other proceeding authorized under this chapter or appropriate for its enforcement, the director, his deputy directors, attorneys and legal assistants designated to act on his behalf, and each other issuing authority may examine, under oath, any and all persons whatsoever and compel by subpoena the attendance of witnesses and the production of books, records, accounts, papers and documents of any person or persons and the director, his deputy directors, inspectors and investigators and each other issuing authority may take any oath or affirmation of any person to any deposition, statement, report or application required in the administration of this chapter, or of any and all other laws now or which may hereafter be in force and effect concerning alcoholic beverages, or the manufacture, distribution and the sale thereof, or the collection of taxes thereon.

The fees of witnesses required to attend before the director or other issuing authority shall be the same as those allowed to witnesses in the Superior Court.

The above enumerations of purposes and powers shall not be construed as exclusive and shall not limit such power to investigate, examine and subpoena for any purpose consonant with the administration and enforcement of this chapter.

If a person subpoenaed to attend any hearing refuses or fails to appear or to be examined, or to answer any question or to produce any books, records, accounts, papers and documents when ordered so to do by the director, the director or other issuing authority, as the case may be, may apply to the Superior Court to compel the person to comply forthwith with the subpoena, direction or order of the director or the other issuing authority, as the case may be.

Each deputy director shall have and exercise all the powers conferred by this chapter upon the director to the extent that the same shall be delegated to him by the director by rules and regulations.

One of such deputy directors shall be designated by the director with power to perform all of the duties of the director in case of his absence or inability to act for any cause and who shall also have authority to so act in the event of the death of the director until a successor has been appointed and qualified.

Amended by L.1943, c. 37, p. 74, s. 1; L.1953, c. 32, p. 575, s. 2, eff. March 19, 1953.