§40-19-5. Records and reports.

(a) It shall be the duty of every motor carrier subject to the tax imposed by this chapter to keep and preserve suitable records of the mileage traveled by every vehicle subject hereto and such other books or accounts as may be necessary to determine the amount of tax for which such motor carrier is liable under the provisions of this chapter, showing the number, make, motor number or vehicle identification number in lieu of the motor and the serial numbers of the motor vehicle so operated, and all such books and records shall be open for examination at any time by the department or its duly authorized agent. The department is given full power and authority to prescribe records to be kept and reports to be made by such companies to facilitate collection of mileage tax imposed by this chapter.

(b) Any person subject to the provisions of this chapter who shall fail to make the reports or any of them as required in this chapter or who shall fail to keep the records as required in this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be punished as is provided in case of conviction for a misdemeanor for each offense. Each month of such failure shall constitute a separate offense.

(Acts 1939, No. 664, p. 1050, §§4, 5; Code 1940, T. 48, §§301(36), 301(37).)