§ 20-6-24. License for shellfish buyers - Suspension or revocation. (a) No person, partnership, firm, association, or corporation shall barter or trade in shellfish taken by persons licensed under this chapter unless a license so to do has been obtained from the director of environmental management.

(b) Any licensee operating under the provisions of this section shall purchase shellfish from licensed persons only and shall purchase or possess only those shellfish legally taken or possessed.

(c) The director shall issue and enforce rules and regulations and orders governing bartering and trading in shellfish by licensed fishers of shellfish, licensed shellfish buyers and other persons, partnerships, firms, associations, or corporations.

(d) The director may suspend, revoke, or deny the license of a shellfish buyer, or fisher of shellfish, for the violation of any provision of this title or the rules, regulations, or orders adopted or issued pursuant to this title.

(e) Any person aggrieved by the decision of the director may appeal the decision pursuant to the provisions of the Administrative Procedures Act, chapter 35 of title 42.

(f) The director of the department of environmental management and the director's agents are authorized to enter and inspect the business premises, appurtenant structures, vehicles, or vessels of any shellfish buyer and to inspect records maintained by a shellfish buyer for the purpose of determining compliance with the provisions of this section and any rules, regulations, or orders issued under this section, and no person shall interfere with or obstruct the entrance or inspection of the director or the director's agents of those business premises, appurtenant structures, vehicles, or vessels.

(g) Any violation of the provisions of this section, or any rule, regulation, or order adopted under this section, shall be subject to the penalties prescribed in § 20-1-16.

History of Section. (P.L. 1981, ch. 197, § 3; P.L. 1983, ch. 173, § 3; P.L. 1986, ch. 214, § 3.)