28-5648. Inspection of fuel and shipping
papers
A. The department, or its appointees, including federal government employees or
persons operating under contract with this state, on presenting appropriate credentials
may conduct inspections and remove samples of fuel to determine coloration of diesel
fuel, or to identify shipping paper violations at any place where taxable fuel is or may
be produced, stored or loaded into transport vehicles. Inspections shall be performed in
a reasonable manner consistent with the circumstances, but in no event is prior notice
required. Inspectors may physically inspect, examine or otherwise search any tank,
reservoir or other container that can or might be used for the production, storage or
transportation of fuel. Inspection may be made of any equipment used for, or in
connection with, the production, storage or transportation of fuel. Inspectors may
demand that shipping papers, documents and records required to be kept by a person
transporting fuel be produced for immediate inspection. The places that may be inspected
pursuant to this section include:
1. A terminal.
2. A fuel storage facility that is not a terminal.
3. A retail fuel facility.
4. Highway rest stops.
5. A designated inspection site. For purposes of this paragraph, "designated
inspection site" means any state highway or waterway inspection station, weigh station,
agricultural inspection station, mobile station or other location designated by the
department that is either fixed or mobile.
B. Inspectors may reasonably detain any person or equipment transporting fuel in or
through this state for the purpose of determining whether the person is operating in
compliance with this article and any rules adopted pursuant to this article. Inspectors
may detain a person or equipment only for such time as is necessary to determine whether
the person is in compliance.
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