Departmental warrant for collection of unpaid taxes and penalties due from motor carriers.

(1) Upon the determination of the amount of unpaid taxes and penalties due from a motor carrier, the department may issue a warrant, under its official seal, directed to the sheriff of any county of the state, commanding the sheriff to levy upon and sell the goods and chattels of such motor carrier found within the sheriff’s jurisdiction for the payment of the amount of such delinquency, with the added penalties and interest and the cost of executing the warrant and conducting the sale, and to return such warrant to the department and pay the department the money collected by virtue thereof. However, any surplus resulting from such sale after all payments of costs, penalties, and delinquent taxes have been made shall be returned to the defaulting motor carrier.

(2) The sheriff to whom any such warrant is directed shall proceed upon the same in the same manner as prescribed by law in respect to executions issued against goods and chattels upon judgment by the several circuit courts, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.

(3) In the event there is a contest or claim of any kind with reference to the property levied upon or the amount of taxes, costs, or penalties due, such contest or claim shall be tried in the circuit court in and for the county in which the warrant was executed, as nearly as may be in the same manner and means as such contest or claim would have been tried in such court had the warrant originally issued upon a judgment rendered by such court. The warrant issued as provided in this section shall constitute prima facie evidence of the amount of taxes, interest, and penalties due to the state by the motor carrier, and the burden of proof shall be upon the motor carrier to show that the amounts or penalties were incorrect.

(4) Nothing in this section shall be construed as forfeiting or waiving any rights to collect such taxes or penalties by an action upon any bonds that may be filed with the department under the provisions of this chapter or by suit or otherwise; in case such suit, action, or other proceeding is instituted for the collection of the tax, such suit, action, or other proceeding shall not be construed as waiving any other right herein provided. Any civil proceeding under this chapter shall not be construed as a waiver or as an estoppel in any criminal proceeding against a motor carrier under this chapter.