Section 27-4-263. Inspections

   (a) Any inspector or other person authorized to ascertain compliance with any rule or regulation of the department pertaining to the production or sale of domestic fish may enter during normal business hours and inspect the premises of a registered seller or producer of domestic fish to determine whether such person is in compliance with the rules and regulations of the department.

(b) In the event any person refuses to give his consent to an inspection as provided in subsection (a) of this Code section, the commissioner or any person authorized to make inspections may seek a warrant to make an inspection as provided in this subsection:

   (1) Any application for an inspection warrant shall be made 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, which, if such violation existed, would be an immediate threat to health, safety, or welfare 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 subsection. Any person violating this paragraph shall be guilty of a misdemeanor; and

   (6) Under this subsection, 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 department, and commanding him or her to conduct any inspection authorized by any rules or regulations promulgated pursuant to this article.

(c) The provisions of Code Section 27-1-23 shall not be applicable to any person registered under this article.

Code 1981, § 27-4-263, enacted by Ga. L. 1992, p. 1507, § 8.