Imperial County Municipal Code Ch. 5.28 Hayloading

The board of supervisors intends to establish a means of identifying the owner of each haystack and of ascertaining the legality of hayloading operations so as to provide a means for controlling the alarming incidence of thefts of baled hay within the county.

(Prior code § 62600)

"Haystack" means baled hay or straw stacked in contiguous tiers as a single unit or stack.

"Hayloading operation" refers to loading any amount of hay onto a truck or vehicle for conveyance away from the haystack site. The loading of hay by the owner thereof, or his or her agent, for movement within the confines of his or her property for his or her own use shall not be deemed to be a hayloading operation for purposes of this chapter.

(Prior code § 62601)

Each haystack shall be posted by its owner with a sign showing the name, address and telephone number of the owner. Signs shall be at least eleven (11) inches by twelve (12) inches in size and shall be legibly printed with large letters.

(Prior code § 62602)

Whoever authorizes a hayloading operation, be it the owner or the buyer of the hay, shall cause a pick up order to be prepared and issued, as hereinafter provided, containing the following:

A. The name and address of the owner of the haystack;

B. The name, address and telephone number of any buyer or agent ordering conveyance of the hay;

C. A description of the quantity and type of hay ordered conveyed and of the location of the haystack;

D. The name and address of the hayloader who loads the hay and a description and license number of his or her vehicle;

E. The name and address of the driver who conveys the hay and a description and license number of his or her truck or other vehicle;

F. The date and time of loading and number of bales loaded;

G. The weighmaster certificate number shall be added to pick up order when tare weight is obtained.

Pick up orders shall be standard four-copy forms approved by the director of weights and measures.

(Prior code § 62603)

Before any hay loading operation occurs, one copy of the pick up order shall be delivered to the person designated to load the hay and two copies thereof shall be transmitted to the driver of the truck or vehicle to be utilized for conveyance of the hay. Additionally, one copy of the pick up order shall be prepared for the owner and for any buyer or agent authorizing the hayloading operation.

(Prior code § 62604)

The person loading the hay and the driver of the truck upon which the hay is loaded shall each have a legible copy of the pick up order in his possession at the time and place of each hay loading operation. The second copy of the pick up order issued to the truck driver shall be left at the haystack site.

(Prior code § 62605)

The owner or seller of hay and any buyer or agent who authorizes a hayloading operation and the person who loaded the hay, shall retain a copy of each pick up order for six months following the date of any hay loading operation. The truck driver conveying the hay shall retain his or her copy of each pick up order and attach it to the weighmaster certificate relating to the particular load for which the pick up order was issued. Pick up orders retained hereunder shall be subject to review by sheriff or director of weights and measures upon request.

(Prior code § 62606)

Any person violating a provision of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

(Prior code § 62607)