Collector's authority to examine records of transportation companies

The collector is specifically authorized to examine at all reasonable hours, the books, records and other documents of all transportation companies, agencies, or firms operating in this state, whether they conduct their business by truck, rail, water, airplane, or otherwise, in order to determine what dealers are importing or are otherwise shipping articles of tangible personal property subject to the tax levied by this Chapter. When any such transportation company refuses to permit the examination of its records, as provided in this Section, the collector may proceed by rule against it, in term time or in vacation, in any court of competent jurisdiction in the parish where such refusals occurred, to show cause why the collector should not be permitted to examine its books, records or other documents. This rule may be tried in open court or in chambers, and in case the rule is made absolute, the same shall be considered a judgment of the court, and every violation thereof shall be considered as a contempt of court and punished according to law.