§ 106-65.30. Inspectors; inspections and reports of violations; designation of resident agent.
§ 106‑65.30. Inspectors; inspections and reports of violations; designation of residentagent.
(a) For the enforcement of the provisions of this Article theCommissioner is authorized to appoint one or more qualified inspectors and suchother employees as are necessary in order to carry out and enforce theprovisions of this Article. The inspectors shall be known as "structuralpest control inspectors." The Commissioner may enforce compliance with theprovisions of this Article by making or causing to be made periodical andunannounced inspections of work done by licensees and certified applicatorsunder this Article who engage in or supervise any one or more phases ofstructural pest control as defined in G.S. 106‑65.25. The Commissionershall cause the prompt and diligent investigation of all reports of violationsof the provisions of this Article and all rules and regulations adoptedpursuant to the provisions hereof; provided, however, no inspection shall bemade by a representative of the Commissioner of any property without firstsecuring the permission of the owner or occupant thereof.
(b) Prior to the issuance or renewal of a license or certifiedapplicator's identification card, every nonresident owner of a businessperforming any phase of structural pest control work shall designate in writingto the Commissioner or his authorized agent a resident agent upon whom serviceof notice or process may be made to enforce the provisions of this Article andrules and regulations adopted pursuant to the provisions hereof or any civil orcriminal liabilities arising hereunder.
(c) The Commissioner shall have authority to appoint personnelof the Structural Pest Control Division as special inspectors and said specialinspectors are hereby vested with the authority to arrest with a warrant, or toarrest without a warrant when a violation of this Article is being committed intheir presence or they have reasonable grounds to believe that a violation ofthis Article is being committed in their presence. Said special inspectorsshall take offenders before the several courts of this State for prosecution orother proceedings. The provisions of this section do not apply to any personholding a valid structural pest control license, or a certified applicator'sidentification card, or a registered technician's identification card as issuedunder the provisions of this Article. Special inspectors shall not be entitledto the benefits of the Law Enforcement Officers' Benefit and Retirement Fund orthe benefits of the Law Enforcement Officers' and Others Death Benefit Act asprovided for in Articles 12 and 12A of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes,respectively. (1955, c. 1017;1967, c. 1184, s. 9; 1973, c. 556, s. 9; 1975, c. 570, s. 15; 1977, c. 231, s.10; 1989, c. 725, s. 6; 1999‑381, s. 8.)