(A) The department or an authorized deputy, employee, or agent may audit and examine the records, books, papers, and equipment of terminal suppliers, importers, wholesalers, jobbers, retail dealers, terminal operators, fuel vendors, and all private and common carriers of motor fuel to verify the completeness, truth, and accuracy of any statement or report and ascertain whether or not the user fee imposed by this law has been paid.

(B) The department has the same general authority provided under subsection (A) with respect to narrow transportation sampling audits, except all fuel vendors and bulk purchasers of fuel shall make available to the department necessary records with respect to the transactions which the department is attempting to verify during normal business hours at the person's physical location in this State, or at the department's offices if the person's location at which the records are located is outside of South Carolina, within three business days after the request.

(C) The department or an appointee including federal government employees and persons contracting with the State, upon proof of credentials shown, in the aggregate referred to for purposes of this section as fuel inspectors, may inspect and each fuel vendor, motor fuel transporter, or bulk purchaser shall disclose immediately upon request any shipping paper required by this chapter to be maintained at the physical location where the request is made which may include any place motor fuel is stored or held for sale or transportation.

HISTORY: 1995 Act No. 136, Section 2.