11-14-114. Notice of violation; hearing; penalty; duty of district attorney; injunctions.

(a) If examination of any commercial fertilizer, soil conditioner or soil amendment indicates that this act or the rules and regulations issued thereunder have been violated, the director shall give notice of the violations and an opportunity for a hearing to the registrant or distributor. If it appears after the hearing that this act or rules and regulations issued thereunder have been violated, the director may certify the facts to the proper district attorney.

(b) Any person convicted of violating this act or the rules and regulations issued thereunder is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be fined not less than fifty dollars ($50.00) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) for each offense, or the director may apply to the district court for the purpose of preventing further violation.

(c) The director is not required to report for prosecution or for the institution of seizure proceedings minor violations when he believes that the public interests will be best served by a suitable notice of warning in writing.

(d) Each district attorney to whom any violation is reported shall cause appropriate proceedings to be instituted and prosecuted in a court of competent jurisdiction without delay. Violations of this act may be enjoined by proceedings brought by the district attorney of the proper county, or by the attorney general, regardless of whether criminal proceedings have been instituted, provided the director has entered a finding pursuant to this act.

(e) The director may apply for and the court may grant a temporary or permanent injunction, without bond, restraining any person from violating or continuing to violate this act or any rule or regulation promulgated under the act notwithstanding the existence of other remedies at law.