1998 Minnesota Statutes

     19.52 Inspections; access to property; impeding 
  commissioner. 

    Subdivision 1.    Access for inspection and enforcement. 
  The commissioner may enter upon any public or private 
 premises at all reasonable times, after providing notification 
 to the owner or operator, to inspect any apiary or other 
 structure which contains bees, honey, bee equipment, or comb; to 
 ascertain the existence of or treat any contagious or infectious 
 bee disease; or to destroy diseased bees or bee equipment which 
 are a public nuisance.  For purposes of this subdivision, 
 notification means providing at least 24 hours' advance notice 
 by telephone, mail, or facsimile of the commissioner's entry 
 upon the premises.  The commissioner is not required to provide 
 notification if:  (1) the owner or operator cannot be readily 
 identified; (2) the entry upon the premises is in response to a 
 complaint to the commissioner; (3) the entry is upon the request 
 of the owner or operator; or (4) the entry is in response to a 
 declared emergency by the commissioner.  The commissioner may 
 open any hive, colony, package, or receptacle which contains, or 
 which the commissioner has reason to believe contains, any bees, 
 comb, bee products, used bee equipment, or anything else which 
 is capable of transmitting infectious bee diseases or exotic 
 parasites.  The commissioner may stop pedestrians and motor 
 vehicles when they are carrying any bees, comb, used bee 
 equipment, or anything else which is capable of transmitting 
 infectious diseases or parasites of bees.  The commissioner may 
 inspect at any time or place, any bees, bee products, or used 
 bee equipment shipped in or into the state.  

    Subd. 2.    Impeding commissioner unlawful.  It is 
 unlawful to deny to the commissioner access to any premises 
 which the commissioner is authorized to enter for purposes of 
 inspection or to resist, thwart, or hinder the commissioner in 
 carrying out any authorized inspection, by misrepresentation, 
 concealment or facts or conditions, or otherwise.  

    HIST: 1983 c 31 s 3; 1986 c 444; 1993 c 233 s 2