(a) Any dealer, handler, processor, sales market or other purchaser of swine who willfully fails or refuses to deduct and pay to the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries any assessment required to be so deducted and remitted to the commissioner shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, in addition to other penalty provided by law, shall be fined in an amount equal to three times the amount of the assessment he failed or refused to collect and remit as required under this article. Any purchaser of swine who fails or refuses to allow the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries or his authorized agents and employees to inspect and review his books and records which disclose his purchases of swine for the purpose of ascertaining the accuracy of amounts deducted and remitted as required under this article shall also be guilty of a misdemeanor. The amount of any fine under this article shall be remitted to the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries and shall be forthwith transferred by the commissioner to the account of the certified association entitled thereto.
(b) In addition to the above penalty, the circuit court or any judge thereof shall have jurisdiction, for cause shown, to grant a temporary restraining order or permanent injunction or both, restraining and enjoining any person from buying swine in Alabama in violation of the provisions of this article. Petitions for injunctive relief as authorized under this subsection shall be filed in the name of the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries in the circuit court in the county of residence of the person who buys swine in violation of the provisions of this article or in the county where such violation occurs. Any temporary restraining order or permanent injunction issued under this subsection shall be issued without a bond.
Last modified: May 3, 2021