Relating to inspections for violations relating to retailers of cigarettes, tobacco, tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, and vapor products that provide for use or consumption of regulated products on the retailer’s premises

This bill provides for the inspection of the premises of a retailer of products regulated under Code chapter 453A (cigarette and tobacco taxes and regulation of alternative nicotine products and vapor products), if the regulated products are used or consumed on the premises. As a condition for issuance of a permit to, and the continued holding of a valid permit by, a retailer of the regulated products that are used or consumed on the retailer’s premises, the permit applicant or holder must give consent to police, the county sheriff or deputy sheriff, members of the department of public safety, and certified peace officers to enter upon areas of the premises where such products are stored, sold, used, or consumed without a warrant during business hours to inspect for violations of the Code chapter or ordinances and regulations that cities and boards of supervisors may adopt. However, a warrant is required for inspection of private records, a private business office, or attached living quarters; persons who are not certified peace officers must limit the scope of their inspections to the regulatory authority under which the inspection is conducted; and those conducting an inspection must present appropriate identification prior to commencing an inspection unless the inspection is an undercover criminal investigation conducted by peace officers.