Taxation Act 1667

VI. Commissioners may grant Warrants to search.

Retailers to permit Search; Hours when Search to be made; Retailer opposing Search; Justice, &c. may issue Warrant to enter.; Doors to be broke open upon Refusal, and Seizure made. Constables, &c. to assist.

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid That the Commissioners to be appointed for execution of this Act or so many of them as shall be appointed of the Quorum shall have power to appoint any one or more persons as to them shall seeme meet by Warrant under theire Hands and Seales to enter into the Cellars Vaults Storehouses Warehouses Store-cellars Shops Roomes or other places belonging to every or any such Retailer to search see and take an account of what quantity of Wines or other the Liquors chargeable as aforesaid every or any such person hath in his hands or any other person to his use And all and every such Retailers in whose Cellars Vaults Store cellars Warehouses or other Roomes or places any the Wines or Liquors aforesaid of any such Retailer are or shall be lodged are hereby required and enjoyned quietly to permitt and suffer the said Officers to enter into theire several and respective Cellars Vaults Store cellars Warehouses Shops Roomes and other places and there to search see and take account of as aforesaid Provided That no search be made or required to be made without the consent of the Owner but betwixt Sun rising, and Sun setting And in case any such Retailer shall refuse oppose or resist the persons appointed to search as aforesaid or shall not discover declare or shew to them all such Cellars Vaults Store cellars Ware houses Shops Roomes or other places wherein he or they have any Wines or other the Liquors aforesaid lying or remaining for theire use that then upon Oath thereof made before the Mayor or other cheife Magistrate of any City Borough or Town corporate or any Justice of the Peace of the County City or Place where such Offence shall be committed (which Oath they are hereby authorised and required to administer) it shall and may be lawfull to and for any such cheife Magistrate or Justice of the Peace and they are hereby required to issue out a Warrant to the person or persons so complaining thereby to enable him or them with the assistance of a Constable or other like Officer of the Place where such offence shall be committed to enter in the day time into the House or Houses of any such Retailer or into any other Room Cellar or place which att any time during the continuance of this Act shall be in such Retailers Occupation for the laying in of Wines or other the Liquors aforesaid And in case of resistance to breake open any Doores and to search for any Wines or the Liquors aforesaid soe concealed or not discovered and to seize and secure the same And all Constables and other Officers aforesaid are hereby authorized and required to be aiding and assisting thereunto