(1) The owners and operators of all common and contract carriers of property which are operating and traveling on or over the public highways of this state, whether interstate or intrastate commerce, shall carry, or cause to be carried, in such vehicle, or in the possession of the driver thereof, at all times when traveling on or over the public highways of this state, true and correct manifests or bills of lading, which shall correctly show and state the total weight of the load being transported or carried on such vehicle at the time such vehicle entered or went upon the public highways of this state. Such manifests, or bills of lading, shall at all times be open to the inspection of the State Tax Commission or its agents or representatives, or any other officer authorized by law, and shall be exhibited for the inspection of same at any time when demand is made therefor. Any person who shall operate, or cause or permit to be operated, any vehicle on the highways of this state without having such manifests or bills of lading in his possession, or without furnishing the driver or operator thereof with such manifests or bills of lading, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined not less than the sum of Fifty Dollars ($50.00). Any person who shall fail or refuse to exhibit such manifests or bills of lading, upon demand therefor by the tax commission or its agent or representative or any other officer authorized by law, shall likewise be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine of not less than Fifty Dollars ($50.00). Any person who shall knowingly carry, or cause or permit to be carried, in any vehicle operated on the highways of this state, any manifests or bills of lading which are false or incorrect in any material feature, shall also be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine of not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00). Provided, however, that the provisions of this section shall not apply to chartered “express companies” which are engaged in transporting for compensation parcels or other movable property having a prior or subsequent rail haul, and which utilize the agencies and facilities of both railroads and motor vehicles in the transportation thereof and receive compensation for both transportation by rail and by motor vehicle.

(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 27-19-103, unless an owner or operator of common and contract carriers of property: (a) does not have in his possession the manifest required by subsection (1) of this section, (b) does not furnish a driver with such manifest, (c) fails or refuses to produce such manifest or (d) produces a false or incorrect manifest, the tax commission or any agent or representative thereof shall not have authority to enter the premises of such owner or operator to inspect his shipping and/or receiving documents.

(3) The provisions of this section that certain vehicles operating on the highways of this state shall carry manifests shall not apply to any motor vehicle transporting raw products or timber.