Section 2-2-11. Inspection warrants

   Whenever the Constitution or laws of the United States or the State of Georgia require the issuance of a warrant to make an inspection under any law administered by the Commissioner of Agriculture or the Department of Agriculture, the procedure set forth in paragraphs (1) through (7) of this Code section shall be employed.

   (1) The Commissioner or any person authorized to make inspections for the Commissioner shall make application for an inspection warrant to a person who is a judicial officer within the meaning of Code Section 17-5-21.

   (2) An inspection warrant shall be issued only upon cause and when supported by an affidavit particularly describing the place, dwelling, structure, premises, or vehicle to be inspected and the purpose for which the inspection is to be made. In addition, the affidavit shall contain either a statement that consent to inspect has been sought and refused or facts or circumstances reasonably justifying the failure to seek such consent. Cause shall be deemed to exist if either reasonable legislative or administrative standards for conducting a routine or area inspection are satisfied with respect to the particular place, dwelling, structure, premises, or vehicle, or there is reason to believe that a condition of nonconformity exists with respect to the particular place, dwelling, structure, premises, or vehicle.

   (3) An inspection warrant shall be effective for the time specified therein, but not for a period of more than 14 days, unless extended or renewed by the judicial officer who signed and issued the original warrant, upon satisfying himself that such extension or renewal is in the public interest. Such inspection warrant must be executed and returned to the judicial officer by whom it was issued within the time specified in the warrant or within the extended or renewed time. After the expiration of such time, the warrant, unless executed, is void.

   (4) An inspection pursuant to an inspection warrant shall be made between 8:00 A.M. and 6:00 P.M. of any day or at any time during operating or regular business hours. An inspection should not be performed in the absence of an owner or occupant of the particular place, dwelling, structure, premises, or vehicle unless specifically authorized by the judicial officer upon a showing that such authority is reasonably necessary to effectuate the purpose of the regulation being enforced. An inspection pursuant to a warrant shall not be made by means of forcible entry, except that the judicial officer may expressly authorize a forcible entry where facts are shown which are sufficient to create a reasonable suspicion of a violation of this title or any other law administered by the Commissioner or the department, which, if such violation existed, would be an immediate threat to health or safety, or where facts are shown establishing that reasonable attempts to serve a previous warrant have been unsuccessful. Where prior consent has been sought and refused and a warrant has been issued, the warrant may be executed without further notice to the owner or occupant of the particular place, dwelling, structure, premises, or vehicle to be inspected.

   (5) It shall be unlawful for any person to refuse to allow an inspection pursuant to an inspection warrant issued as provided in this Code section. Any person violating this paragraph shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

   (6) Under this Code section, an inspection warrant is an order, in writing, signed by a judicial officer, directed to the Commissioner or any person authorized to make inspections for the Commissioner, and commanding him or her to conduct any inspection required or authorized by this title or any other law administered by the Commissioner or the department or regulations promulgated pursuant to this title or any other law administered by the Commissioner or the department.

   (7) Nothing in this Code section shall be construed to require an inspection warrant when a warrantless inspection is authorized by law or a permit issued under this title or any other law administered by the Commissioner or the department.

Code 1981, § 2-2-11, enacted by Ga. L. 1989, p. 390, § 1.