(a)        Any person who violates the provisions of N.C. Gen. Stat. § 104E-15 or 104E-20, or who hinders, obstructs, or otherwise interferes with any authorized representative of the Department in the discharge of his official duties in making inspections as provided in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 104E-11, or in impounding materials as provided in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 104E-14, shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished as provided by law.? Any person who willfully violates the provisions of N.C. Gen. Stat. § 104E-10.2 shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be punished as provided by law.

(b)        The Secretary may, either before or after the institution of any other action or proceedings authorized by law, institute a civil action in the superior court of the county in which the defendant in said action resides for injunctive relief to prevent a threatened or continued violation of any provision of this Chapter or any order or regulation issued pursuant to this Chapter. (1975, c. 718, s. 1; 1979, c. 694, s. 5; 1981, c. 480, s. 2; 1993, c. 539, s. 685; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c).)