N.Y. Agric. & Mkts. Law § 181

Current through 2024 NY Law Chapter 457
Section 181 - Powers and duties of municipal directors; prosecution for violations; local fees

Each municipal director appointed pursuant to the provisions of section one hundred eighty of this article, personally or through his authorized agents, shall:

1. Administer, supervise and enforce within his municipality the provisions of this article and the rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto.
2. Take charge of and safely keep the municipal standards and, at least once every five years, submit such standards to the commissioner, at the place where the standards of the state are kept, for calibration and certification.
3. Keep a complete record of the work done by him and make reports of such work to the commissioner at the times and in the form required by the commissioner.
4. In the general performance of his official duties, in the execution of the provisions of this article; have access to all places of business, buildings or premises; and stop any vendor or dealer whatsoever for the purpose of making proper inspections and tests.
5. Inspect, test and ascertain, as frequently as prescribed by the commissioner, if weights and measures, weighing and measuring devices and systems and pricing devices and systems, and accessories related thereto, which are used commercially by any person, firm or corporation, including but not limited to coin counting machines used by any coin processor required to be licensed pursuant to article twenty-seven-A of the general business law ("coin processor licensing act"), are correct and being used correctly.
6. Weigh, measure and inspect packaged commodities kept, offered or exposed for sale, sold or in the process of delivery to determine whether such packages contain the amounts represented and whether they are kept, offered or exposed for sale in accordance with this article or the rules and regulations promulgated pursuant thereto.
7.
a. Upon finding a violation of the provisions of this article or the rules and regulations promulgated pursuant thereto, expeditiously cause the same to be corrected or where there is evidence of intent to defraud refer evidence of such violation to the district attorney of the county for prosecution under section forty-one of this chapter or in the absence of intent to defraud refer to the attorney for the municipality for commencement of a civil action, in the name of the municipality, to recover a civil penalty in the amounts prescribed in sections thirty-nine and forty of this chapter. A cause of action for recovery of such penalty may be released, settled or compromised by the municipal director before the matter is referred to the municipal attorney or thereafter by such attorney. Notwithstanding the provisions of section forty-five of this chapter, all moneys collected hereunder shall be retained by the municipality.
b. The municipal director in a city having a population of one million or more may hold a hearing to determine whether a violation of the provisions of this article has occurred. At least two weeks written notice of a hearing shall be served either personally on the individual in charge of the place of business where the alleged violation occurred or by certified or registered mail addressed to such place of business. Such notice shall contain a concise statement of the facts constituting the alleged violation and shall set forth the date, time and place that the hearing will be held. At a hearing conducted by him or his designee, the municipal director shall be authorized to recover any penalty imposed as the result of a finding of a violation of the provisions of this article.
8. Have authority to establish and collect fees for the inspection and testing of all weights and measures, weighing and measuring devices and systems and pricing devices and systems, and accessories related thereto within his jurisdiction. Provided, however, that the commissioner shall, after public hearing, promulgate rules and regulations fixing maximum levels for such fees and governing any other aspect thereof, including the frequency of such inspections, as he deems necessary. All fees collected by the municipal director shall be paid into the appropriate municipal treasury. No additional inspection fees shall be assessed for pricing accuracy inspections where the retail store being inspected has previously passed two consecutive inspections during the calendar year.
9. Inspect and test fuels for conformance with applicable standards and enforce against violations of such standards.

N.Y. Agric. and Mkts. Law § 181