§13508 Limited authority over cooperative associations

Summary

Requires cooperative associations and federations to keep records about transportation in the form the Secretary or the Board says. The Secretary, the Board, or their designated employee can demand to see and copy those records and can inspect the association’s land, buildings, and equipment. The Secretary or the Board can also make the co-op file reports answering questions about its transportation. If the co-op does not follow these rules, the Secretary or the Board can sue to enforce them. Any civil trial must be held in the federal district where the co-op’s main office is, where the violation happened, or where the offender is found. The law lists several forbidden actions, such as failing to make a required report, not answering questions truthfully or completely, not keeping records as required, falsifying or destroying records, or filing false reports. If a person knowingly and willfully tries to evade these rules, the fine is at least $200 but not more than $500 for the first offense, and at least $250 but not more than $2,000 for a later offense. Willful failures to report, to answer within 30 days, to keep records properly, and similar acts are specifically prohibited.