98. Prohibition on engaging in business of moneylending without licence.
(1) A person shall not engage in the provision of high cost credit on his own behalf unless -
(a) he is the holder of a high cost credit provider’s licence, and
(b) he maintains a business premises for that purpose which is not used as a residence by any person.
(2) A person shall not engage in the provision of high cost credit on behalf of a high cost credit provider who is not the holder of a high cost credit provider’s licence.
(3) Where a member of the Garda Síochána has reasonable cause to suspect that a person in a public place is engaging in the provision of high cost credit in contravention of this section, the member may, without warrant, stop, question, search (if need be by force) and remove from that person any documents or money which the member reasonably believes may be in that person's possession for the purpose of the provision of high cost credit.
(4) A person shall not obstruct or interfere with a member of the Garda Síochána acting under subsection (3) or give to a member information which is false or misleading.
(5) A person shall comply with any request made of him by a member of the Garda Síochána under subsection (3).