§ 23-25-20. Enforcement. (a) The sampling and examination of pesticides or devices shall be made under the direction of the director for the purpose of determining whether they comply with the requirements of this chapter. The director, or his or her designated agent, is authorized, upon presentation of proper identification, to enter any distributor's premises, including any vehicle of transport, at all reasonable times in order to have access to pesticides or devices packaged and labeled for distribution and to samples of any containers or labeling for those pesticides and devices. If the director or his or her agent obtains any samples, prior to leaving the premises, he or she shall give to the owner or person in charge a receipt describing the samples obtained and, if requested, a portion of each sample equal in volume or weight to the portion retained. If an analysis is made of those samples, a copy of the results of the analysis shall be furnished promptly to the owner or person in charge. If it appears from the examinations that a pesticide or device fails to comply with the provisions of this chapter or regulations adopted under this chapter and the director contemplates instituting criminal proceedings against any person, the director shall cause appropriate notice to be given to that person. Any person notified shall be given an opportunity within a reasonable time to present his or her views, either orally or in writing, with regard to the contemplated proceedings. If after this, in the opinion of the director, it appears that the provisions of the chapter or regulations adopted under this chapter have been violated by that person, the director shall refer a copy of the results of the analysis or the examination of the pesticide or device to the prosecuting attorney for the county in which the violation occurred.

(b) For the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this chapter, the director or his or her designated agent may enter upon any public or private premises at reasonable times in order to:

(1) Have access for the purpose of inspecting any equipment used in applying pesticides;

(2) Inspect and take samples from lands actually or reported to be exposed to pesticides;

(3) Inspect storage or disposal areas;

(4) Inspect or investigate complaints of injury to humans or land;

(5) Sample pesticides being applied or to be applied;

(6) Observe the use and application of any pesticide; and

(7) Administer to or take from any person an oath, affirmation, or affidavit whenever that oath, affirmation, or affidavit is for use in any prosecution or proceeding under or in the enforcement of this chapter. That document, when certified by the party taking the statement, shall then be admissible in any administrative proceeding without further proof of the identity or authority of the agent.

(c) Should the director be denied access to any land where the access was sought for the purposes set forth in this chapter, he or she may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for a search warrant authorizing access to the land for those purposes. The court may, upon application, issue the search warrant for the purpose requested.

(d) The director, with or without the aid and advice of the county or district attorney, is charged with the duty of enforcing the requirements of this chapter and any rules or regulations issued under this chapter. In the event a county or district attorney refuses to act on behalf of the director, the attorney general may act.

(e) The director may bring an action to enjoin the violation or threatened violation of any provision of this chapter or any regulations made pursuant to this chapter in a court of competent jurisdiction of the county in which the violation occurs or is about to occur.

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

History of Section. (P.L. 1976, ch. 191, § 2; G.L. 1956, § 23-41.1-20; P.L. 1979, ch. 39, § 1; P.L. 1981, ch. 248, § 1.)