Vermont § 2460 - Civil investigation

§ 2460. Civil investigation

• (a)(1) The Attorney General or a State’s Attorney, whenever he or she has reason to believe
  any person to be or to have been in violation of section 2453 of this title, or of any rule or regulation made pursuant to section 2453 of this title, may examine or cause to be examined by any agent or representative designated by
  him or her for that purpose, any books, records, papers, memoranda, and physical objects
  of whatever nature bearing upon each alleged violation, and may demand written responses
  under oath to questions bearing upon each alleged violation. (2) The Attorney General or a State’s Attorney may require the attendance of such person
  or of any other person having knowledge in the premises in the county where the person
  resides or has a place of business, or in Washington County if the person is a nonresident
  or has no place of business, within the State, may take testimony and require proof
  material for his or her information, and may administer oaths or take acknowledgment
  in respect of any book, record, paper, or memorandum. (3) The Attorney General or a State’s Attorney shall serve notice of the time, place,
  and cause of the examination or attendance, or notice of the cause of the demand for
  written responses, at least 10 days prior to the date of the examination, personally
  or by certified mail, upon the person at his or her principal place of business, or,
  if the place is not known, to his or her last known address. (4) Any book, record, paper, memorandum, or other information produced by any person pursuant
  to this section shall not, unless otherwise ordered by a court of this State for good
  cause shown, be disclosed to any person other than the authorized agent or representative
  of the Attorney General or a State’s Attorney or another law enforcement officer engaged
  in legitimate law enforcement activities, unless with the consent of the person producing
  the same. (5) This subsection shall not be applicable to any criminal investigation or prosecution
  brought under the laws of this or any state. (b)(1) A person upon whom a notice is served pursuant to the provisions of this section shall
  comply with the terms thereof unless otherwise provided by the order of a court of
  this State. (2) Any person who, with intent to avoid, evade, or prevent compliance, in whole or in
  part, with any civil investigation under this section, removes from any place, conceals,
  withholds, or destroys, mutilates, alters, or by any other means falsifies any documentary
  material in the possession, custody, or control of any person subject of any such
  notice, or mistakes or conceals any information, shall be subject to a civil penalty
  of not more than $25,000.00 and to recovery by the Attorney General’s or State’s Attorney’s
  office the reasonable value of its services and expenses in enforcing compliance with
  this section. (c)(1) Whenever any person fails to comply with any notice served upon him or her under this
  section or whenever satisfactory copying or reproduction of material pursuant to this
  section cannot be done and the person refuses to surrender the material, the Attorney