The Department or any law enforcement agency may inspect any premises used by any timber buyer in the conduct of the buyer's business during normal business hours, and such inspection may include, but is not limited to, the inventory, timber, books, accounts, records, proof of ownership, or other documentation required under this Act or administrative rule of every such timber buyer that operates or does business in the State . Any person licensed as a timber buyer as defined in this Act, or any person who has purchased, bartered, or attempted to purchase or barter timber, or any person having possession or who has had possession of timber as defined in this Act shall be prima facie evidence that the person is a timber buyer, excluding transporters. A timber buyer shall retain the books, accounts, records, proof of ownership, or other documentation required under this Act or administrative rule used in the conduct of the buyer's business for a period of 3 years after any purchase, cutting, or transportation of timber made by the timber buyer or the buyer's employee. All timber buyers shall provide to a transporter and a transporter shall have immediately available proof of ownership, on forms provided by the Department, for all timber that is currently being transported by the transporter.
225 ILCS 735/9