(1) The commissioner, upon his own motion or upon the complaint of any person, may make any and all investigations necessary to insure compliance with this article.
(2) (a) At any reasonable time during regular business hours, the commissioner shall have free and unimpeded access upon consent or upon obtaining an administrative search warrant:
To all buildings, yards, warehouses, and storage facilities in which any pesticides arekept, stored, handled, processed, or transported for the purpose of carrying out any provision of this article or any rule made pursuant to this article;
To all records required to be kept at any reasonable time and may make copies ofsuch records for the purpose of carrying out any provision of this article or any rule made pursuant to this article.
(b) The commissioner shall have full authority to administer oaths and take statements, to issue administrative subpoenas requiring the attendance of witnesses before him and the production of all books, memoranda, papers, and other documents, articles, or instruments, and to compel the disclosure by such witnesses of all facts known to them relative to the matters under investigation. Upon the failure or refusal of any witness to obey any subpoena, the commissioner may petition the district court, and, upon a proper showing, the court may enter an order compelling the witness to appear and testify or produce documentary evidence. Failure to obey such an order of the court shall be punishable as a contempt of court.
(3) Complaints of record made to the commissioner and the results of his investigations may, in the discretion of the commissioner, be closed to public inspection, except as provided by court order, during the investigatory period and until dismissed or until notice of hearing and charges are served on a licensee or registrant.
Source: L. 90: Entire article R&RE, p. 1568, § 1, effective June 7.
Editor's note: This section is similar to former § 35-9-107 as it existed prior to 1990.