(a) A member of the California Highway Patrol may stop any vehicle transporting any timber products, livestock, poultry, farm produce, crude oil, petroleum products, or inedible kitchen grease, and inspect the bills of lading, shipping or delivery papers, or other evidence to determine whether the driver is in legal possession of the load, and, upon reasonable belief that the driver of the vehicle is not in legal possession, shall take custody of the vehicle and load and turn them over to the custody of the sheriff of the county in which the timber products, livestock, poultry, farm produce, crude oil, petroleum products, or inedible kitchen grease, or any part thereof, is apprehended.
(b) The sheriff shall receive and provide for the care and safekeeping of the apprehended timber products, livestock, poultry, farm produce, crude oil, petroleum products, or inedible kitchen grease, or any part thereof, and immediately, in cooperation with the department, proceed with an investigation and its legal disposition.
(c) Any expense incurred by the sheriff in the performance of his or her duties under this section shall be a legal charge against the county.
(Amended by Stats. 1999, Ch. 83, Sec. 187. Effective January 1, 2000.)