80-10-303. Violations -- enforcement proceedings -- judicial review. - Montana Statutes

     80-10-303. Violations -- enforcement proceedings -- judicial review. (1) If it appears from the examination of commercial fertilizer or from the inspection of an anhydrous ammonia facility that this chapter or the rules adopted under this chapter have been violated, the department shall give notice of the violations to the registrant, licensee, distributor, or possessor from whom the sample was taken. A person notified must be given an opportunity to be heard under rules of the department. If it appears after a hearing, either in the presence or absence of the person notified, that this chapter or rules issued under this chapter have been violated, the department may certify the facts to the proper prosecuting attorney.
     (2) A person who violates this chapter or the rules adopted under this chapter or who obstructs, prevents, or attempts to prevent the department from performing its duty may be fined not less than $300 or more than $500 for the first violation and not less than $300 or more than $1,000 for a subsequent violation. In all actions under this chapter involving the composition of a lot of commercial fertilizer, a certified copy of the official analysis of the department is prima facie evidence of the composition.
     (3) This chapter does not require the department to report for prosecution or for the beginning of seizure proceedings minor violations of this chapter when it believes that the public interest will be best served by a suitable notice of warning in writing.
     (4) A prosecuting attorney to whom a violation is reported shall prosecute the violator in a court of competent jurisdiction without delay.
     (5) The department may apply for and the court may grant a temporary or permanent injunction restraining any person from violating or continuing to violate any of the provisions of this chapter or any rule adopted under the chapter notwithstanding the existence of other remedies at law. The injunction must be issued without bond.
     (6) If an in-state manufacturer or supplier fails to pay a fee required under 80-10-207, the manufacturer or supplier may be fined an amount up to $1,000 or twice the fee that should have been paid, whichever is higher. If a supplier fails to obtain a license as required in 80-10-202(3), the supplier may be assessed a civil penalty of $500 for each quarter that the supplier fails to be licensed, in addition to any other amounts owed to the state.
     (7) If a person adversely affected by an act, order, or ruling made by the department under this chapter is not entitled to a hearing before the department to determine the person's rights, the person may within 45 days sue in the district court of any county where the alleged violation giving rise to the department's act, order, or ruling occurred for a new trial of the issues bearing upon the act, order, or ruling. After the trial the court may issue and enforce those orders, judgments, or decrees that it considers proper, just, and equitable.

     History: En. Sec. 16, Ch. 41, L. 1957; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 55, L. 1965; amd. Sec. 97, Ch. 218, L. 1974; amd. Sec. 14, Ch. 279, L. 1975; R.C.M. 1947, 3-1727; amd. Sec. 9, Ch. 310, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 2609, Ch. 56, L. 2009; amd. Sec. 15, Ch. 395, L. 2009.