§ 28-5648 — Inspection of fuel and shipping papers

A. The department, or its appointees, including federal government employees or persons operating under contract with this state, on presenting appropriate credentials may conduct inspections and remove samples of fuel to determine coloration of diesel fuel, or to identify shipping paper violations at any place where taxable fuel is or may be produced, stored or loaded into transport vehicles. Inspections shall be performed in a reasonable manner consistent with the circumstances, but in no event is prior notice required. Inspectors may physically inspect, examine or otherwise search any tank, reservoir or other container that can or might be used for the production, storage or transportation of fuel. Inspection may be made of any equipment used for, or in connection with, the production, storage or transportation of fuel. Inspectors may demand that shipping papers, documents and records required to be kept by a person transporting fuel be produced for immediate inspection. The places that may be inspected pursuant to this section include:

1. A terminal.

2. A fuel storage facility that is not a terminal.

3. A retail fuel facility.

4. Highway rest stops.

5. A designated inspection site. For the purposes of this paragraph, "designated inspection site" means any state highway or waterway inspection station, weigh station, agricultural inspection station, mobile station or other location designated by the department that is either fixed or mobile.

B. Inspectors may reasonably detain any person or equipment transporting fuel in or through this state for the purpose of determining whether the person is operating in compliance with this article. Inspectors may detain a person or equipment only for such time as is necessary to determine whether the person is in compliance.