27-69-59 - Unlawful sale; search and seizure.
§ 27-69-59. Unlawful sale; search and seizure.
When the commissioner has good reason to believe that tobacco is being kept, sold, offered for sale, or given away in violation of this chapter, or regulations issued under authority hereof, he may make affidavit of such fact, describing the place or thing to be searched, before any justice of the peace, mayor of any city, town or village, or county or circuit judge of any county in this state, and such justice of the peace, mayor or county or circuit judge shall issue a search warrant directed to the sheriff or any constable or any police officer in any city, town or village, commanding him to proceed in the day time, or in the night time, to enter by breaking, if necessary, and to diligently search any building, room in a building, outhouses, place, wagon, cart, buggy, motorcycle, motor truck, automobile, water or air craft, or other vehicle as may be designated in the affidavit and search warrant, and to seize such tobacco so possessed and to hold the same until disposed of by law, and to arrest the person or persons in possession or control of the same.
Such writ shall be returnable instanter, or on a day to be stated, and a copy shall be served on the owner or person in possession, if such person be present or readily found.
If upon hearing, or the return of such search warrant, it shall appear that any tobacco unlawfully possessed were seized, the same shall be declared forfeited to this state, and shall be sold as provided in Section 27-69-55 of this chapter.
Sources: Codes, 1942, § 10196; Laws, 1932, ch. 92; Laws, 1934, ch. 125.