Stewards - Enforcement authority

1. Stewards shall enforce these rules and the racing laws of this state and have authority to charge any licensee for a violation of these rules and the laws of this state, to conduct hearings, and to recommend to the commission the imposition of administrative fees or suspensions within the limits and procedures of this section. The decision of the stewards as to the extent of a disqualification of any horse in any race is final for purposes of distribution of the pari-mutuel pool and purses. 2. Stewards may impose administrative fees of up to one thousand dollars for each offense or suspend occupational licenses for up to six months for each offense, or both such fee and suspension. Such action by the stewards does not bar the commission from imposing a more severe penalty if so required in the determination of the commission. However, the commission shall initiate no action increasing any steward's penalty after sixty days from the date of the stewards' action. The stewards, instead of taking action against a licensee, may refer any alleged violation to the commission for hearing and decision, but such referral to the commission by the stewards is not necessary as a condition to commission action against a licensee. In cases where fines or penalties alter the results of a race, the stewards shall re-award purses, prizes, awards, and trophies. 3. All fines imposed by the stewards upon a licensee must be paid by the licensee to the commission within forty-eight hours after imposition.