§ 20-7-5.1. Lobster dealer's license. (a) No person, partnership, firm, association, or corporation shall barter or trade in lobsters 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 lobsters from licensed persons only and shall purchase or possess only those lobsters legally taken or possessed.

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

(d) The director may suspend, revoke, or deny the license of a lobster buyer or fisher of lobster 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 provision 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 lobster buyer and to inspect records maintained by a lobster buyer for the purposes 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 hereunder shall be subject to the penalties prescribed in § 20-1-16.

History of Section. (P.L. 1992, ch. 133, art. 17, § 5.)