§19-15-17 Violations. - West Virginia Statutes

§19-15-17. Violations.
(a) If it appears from the examination of any regulated product that any of the provisions of this article or the rules issued thereunder have been violated, the commissioner shall cause notice of the violation to be given to the registrant, distributor or possessor from whom the sample was collected. Any person so notified shall be given an opportunity to be heard under legislative rules proposed and promulgated by the commissioner. If it appears after the hearing, either in the presence or absence of the person so notified, that any of the provisions of this article or rules issued thereunder have been violated, the commissioner may prosecute in any court of competent jurisdiction any person violating the provisions of this article.

(b) Any person convicted of violating any provisions of this article or rules issued thereunder is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more than two hundred dollars for the first offense and not less than two hundred dollars nor more than five hundred dollars for each subsequent offense.

(c) Nothing in this article may be construed as requiring the commissioner or his or her agent to report for prosecution or for the institution of seizure proceedings as a result of minor violations of the article when he or she believes that the public interest will be best served by a suitable notice of warning in writing.

(d) It is the duty of each prosecuting attorney to whom any violation is reported to cause appropriate proceedings to be instituted and prosecuted in a court of competent jurisdiction without delay.

(e) The commissioner is hereby authorized to apply for and the court to grant a temporary or permanent injunction, to be issued without bond, restraining any person from violating or continuing to violate any provision of this article or rule promulgated thereunder notwithstanding the existence of other remedies at law.