§ 2-7-18. Violations. (a) If it appears from the examination of any commercial fertilizer that any of the provisions of this chapter or the rules and regulations issued under this chapter have been violated, the director shall cause notice of the violations to be given to the registrant, distributor, or possessor from whom the sample was taken; any person notified shall be given opportunity to be heard under any rules and regulations that may be prescribed by the director. If it appears after the 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 under this chapter have been violated, the director may certify the facts to the attorney general.

(b) Any person convicted of violating any provision of this chapter or rules and regulations issued under this chapter shall be punished in the discretion of the court.

(c) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as requiring the director or the director's representative to report for prosecution or for the institution of seizure proceedings as a result of minor violations of the chapter when the director believes that the public interest will be best served by a suitable notice of warning in writing.

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

(e) The director is 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. The injunction shall be issued without bond.

History of Section. (P.L. 1977, ch. 168, § 2.)