Montana § 80-4-429 - Penalty

§ 80-4-429. Penalty

Penalty. (1) Except as otherwise provided, a person who violates any provision of parts 4 through 7 of this chapter or rules promulgated under parts 4 through 7 or who impedes, obstructs, hinders, or otherwise prevents or attempts to prevent the director or an authorized representative in the performance of a duty under parts 4 through 7 of this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor. (2) A person who refuses to permit inspection of licensed premises, books, accounts, records, or other documents required by parts 4 through 7 of this chapter or who uses a scale weight ticket or purchase contract that fails to satisfy the requirements of parts 4 through 7 of this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor. (3) A person acting as a commodity dealer or warehouse operator who knowingly sells warehouse-receipted agricultural commodities that the person is not authorized to sell or who fails to pay for purchased agricultural commodities is guilty of a felony. (4) A person exempted from licensure as a commodity dealer under the provisions of 80-4-402 (5)(b)(vi) who fails to pay in full all amounts due to a producer for the sale of agricultural commodities is guilty of a felony and is also subject to any additional administrative penalty authorized by this chapter. (5) A person is guilty of a felony if that person knowingly delivers to a commodity dealer or warehouse operator or upon the exercise of reasonable diligence should have known of the delivery to that person of an agricultural commodity that contains: (a) a nitrogen fertilizer added to harvested grain; (b) a poisonous, deleterious, or other substance not registered or approved by federal or state statutes, regulations, or rules; or (c) a registered or approved substance that has not been used or applied according to label directions or other government standards. (6) (a) A person who violates any provision of this section is subject to an administrative civil penalty of not more than $100,000 for each transaction in violation. (b) The department shall establish by rule a penalty matrix that schedules the types of penalties, the amounts for initial and subsequent offenses, and other matters necessary for the administration of civil penalties under this subsection (6). The issuance of a civil penalty is subject to the contested case procedures of Title 2, chapter 4, part 6. The department shall adopt the rules within 3 months of July 1, 2019. The department may not enforce penalties provided for in this section until the rules are adopted. (c) Funds received in the form of civil penalties must be deposited in the general fund.