(a) If the Secretary or his designee finds any plant infested or infected with any dangerously injurious plant pest, he shall issue a stop sale notice and mark or tag the plant in a conspicuous manner. He shall give written notice to the owner, tenant, or person in charge of the premises.
(b) If the person notified does not destroy or treat the infested or infected plant pursuant to the departmental rules and regulations, the Secretary shall destroy or treat the plant. The Secretary shall prepare a statement of the expenses of destruction or treatment and shall transmit a copy of the statement and account to the State’s Attorney of the county where the owner of the premises resides. The State’s Attorney shall collect the expenses and account to the Secretary. The copy of the statement and account is sufficient evidence to prove the claim.
Structure Maryland Statutes
Title 5 - Pesticide and Pest Control
Subtitle 3 - Plant Disease Control
Section 5-304 - Quarantine of Infested or Infected Areas
Section 5-305 - Aircraft Dissemination of Insecticides, Fungicides, and Bactericides
Section 5-306 - Right of Entry; Treatment of Plants
Section 5-307 - Marking or Tagging Infested or Infected Plants; Notice to Owner; Destruction
Section 5-308 - Reciprocal Agreements for Nursery Stock
Section 5-310 - Shipping Nursery Stock Into State
Section 5-311 - Selling or Shipping Nursery Stock Without Certificate
Section 5-312 - Condemnation of Diseased Nursery Stock Sold, Shipped or Delivered in State
Section 5-313 - Penalties for Violations of Subtitle
Section 5-314 - Alternative Civil Penalty; Payments; Regulations