License issuance, suspension, revocation, and reinstatement

1. It is unlawful for any person to engage in the operation of one or more vending machines in North Dakota if that person does not possess a currently valid vending license from the department. Only persons who comply with the provisions of this chapter are entitled to receive such a license. The annual license fee for operating a vending machine is forty dollars. The plan review application fee for an operator is fifty percent of the annual license fee if a plan review application is required. For a person's initial license application, an annual license fee and a license application administration fee of one hundred dollars is required in addition to fifty percent of the annual license fee if a plan review application is required. 2. Any person desiring to operate one or more vending machines in North Dakota shall make an application in writing for each vending machine to the department on forms provided by the department. The applicant shall provide the following information: a. The applicant's full name, residence, and post-office address. b. The name and location of the commissary or commissaries where the vending machines are to be located and the name and location of the company or companies servicing the vending machines. c. The identity of the products to be dispensed through vending machines. d. The signature of the applicant or applicants. 3. Upon receipt of the application, the department shall issue a license to the applicant. The license is not transferable. The operator's license must be displayed and be readily visible in the immediate area of the vending machines. In order to retain an operator's license, the operator shall comply with the requirements of these regulations. 4. After an opportunity for a hearing, and following the procedures provided in section 33-33-03-04, an operator's license may be suspended temporarily by the department upon violation by the licenseholder of any of the provisions of this chapter or may be revoked upon serious or repeated violation of such section, or for interference with the department's performance of its duties. 5. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, whenever the department finds unsanitary or other conditions involving the operation of any vending machine or commissary which, in the judgment of the department, constitutes a substantial hazard to the public health, it may, without notice or hearing, issue a written order to the operator citing the existence of such condition and specifying corrective action to be taken and, if deemed necessary, requiring immediate discontinuance of operation. The order is effective immediately and applies only to the vending machine, commissary, or product involved. Any operator to whom such order is issued shall comply therewith, but upon petition to the department, must be afforded a hearing as soon as possible. If necessary corrective action has been taken and upon receipt of a written request from the operator, the department shall make a reinspection to determine whether operations may be resumed. 6. After any hearing held under the provisions of this chapter, the department shall sustain, modify, or rescind any notice or order considered in the hearing. 7. Any operator whose license has been suspended may at any time make application for the reinstatement of the license. Within ten days after the receipt of a written application, accompanied by, or including, a statement signed by the operator to the effect that in the operator's opinion the violated term or terms of this chapter have been complied with, the department shall make a reinspection. If the applicant is again complying with the terms of this chapter, the license must be reinstated.