§2146 Administration and enforcement by Secretary

Summary

The Secretary must investigate and inspect dealers, exhibitors, handlers, carriers, research facilities, and auction operators to see if they follow the rules. Inspectors can go into their business places at reasonable times and look at the buildings, animals, and the records those people are required to keep. Each research facility must be inspected at least once a year. If problems are found, the Secretary must do follow-up checks until they are fixed. The Secretary must make rules that let inspectors take away or humanely destroy any animal that is suffering because rules were not followed. This applies to animals held by dealers, exhibitors, research facilities (when an animal is no longer needed for a test), auction operators, intermediate handlers, or carriers. Anyone who attacks, blocks, or interferes with a person doing their official duties under this law can be fined up to $5,000, jailed up to three years, or both. If a deadly or dangerous weapon is used, the fine can be up to $10,000 and the jail term up to ten years, or both. If someone is killed while doing those duties, federal murder laws apply. Certain other federal investigation and penalty rules also apply to the Secretary, who can carry out inquiries anywhere in the United States, its territories, the District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico. Federal and territorial courts have power to enforce and stop violations of these rules, except where another part of the law says otherwise.