A. The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry may suspend, cancel, revoke, or refuse reissuance of a scrap metal dealer license after the person has an opportunity for public hearing pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act for any of the following causes:

1. Engages in fraud or deceit in obtaining or renewing a license;

2. Acts as a scrap metal dealer in this state without a license;

3. Aids or abets another person in acting as a scrap metal dealer without a license; or

4. Violates any of the provisions of the Oklahoma Scrap Metal Dealers Act.

B. After notice and opportunity for a hearing in accordance with the Administrative Procedures Act, if the Department finds any person in violation of the Oklahoma Scrap Metal Dealers Act or any rule promulgated or order issued pursuant thereto, the Department shall have the authority to assess an administrative penalty of not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) and not more than Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) for each violation. Each action or each day a violation continues may constitute a separate and distinct violation.

C. In addition to penalties and fines, the Department shall have authority to apply to district court and obtain a temporary or permanent injunction against anyone who violates the Oklahoma Scrap Metal Dealers Act and shall have authority to obtain or impose civil monetary penalties on anyone who violates the Oklahoma Scrap Metal Dealers Act.

D. Nothing in the Oklahoma Scrap Metal Dealers Act shall preclude the Department from seeking penalties in district court in the maximum amount allowed by law. The assessment of penalties in an administrative enforcement proceeding shall not prevent the subsequent assessment by a court of the maximum civil or criminal penalties for violations of the Oklahoma Scrap Metal Dealers Act and rules promulgated pursuant thereto.

E. Any person assessed an administrative or civil penalty may be required to pay, in addition to the penalty amount and interest thereon, attorney fees and costs associated with the collection of the penalties.

F. If any person refuses, denies or interferes with any right of access, the Department shall have the right to apply to and obtain from a district court an administrative or other warrant as necessary to enforce the right of access and inspection.

G. If the Department finds any person operating as a scrap metal dealer without a license, the Department shall have the authority to tag as "Not For Commercial Use" any weight or measure utilized by the scrap metal dealer.

Added by Laws 2013, c. 230, § 7, eff. Nov. 1, 2013. Amended by Laws 2014, c. 18, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2014. Renumbered from § 1430 of Title 59 by Laws 2014, c. 18, § 12, eff. Nov. 1, 2014.