Section 24:5A-8 - Enforcement of act; penalties(a) The department shall execute and enforce the provisions of this act and in that enforcement is hereby vested with all powers relating to inspection, sampling, condemnation and embargoing of hazardous substances granted to it with respect to food and drugs under subtitle 1, Title 24 of the Revised Statutes.(b) If any person shall violate directly or indirectly, through his officers or employees, any of the provisions of this act, or regulations promulgated hereunder, the commissioner may order the correction of the violation within such reasonable period of time as the commissioner may prescribe. Such order shall be complied with in the time specified.(c) Any person violating any of the provisions of this act or orders or regulations promulgated hereunder shall be liable to a penalty of not less than $100.00 nor more than $1,000.00 and for the second and each succeeding violation, a penalty of not less than $200.00 nor more than $2,000.00 to be collected in a civil action by summary proceeding under "the penalty enforcement law" (N.J.S. 2A:58-1 et seq.). Where the violation is of a continuing nature, each day during which it continues, after the date given by which the violation must be eliminated in the order by the commissioner, shall constitute an additional, separate and distinct offense, except during the time an appeal from said order may be taken or is pending. The commissioner is hereby authorized and empowered to compromise and settle any claim for a penalty under this section in such amount in the discretion of the commissioner as may appear appropriate and equitable under all of the circumstances.
(d) Payment of a penalty for any violation of this act or regulations promulgated hereunder either before or after the institution of proceedings for the collection thereof shall be deemed equivalent to a conviction of the violation for which such penalty was claimed.L.1966, c.262, s.8; amended by L.1983, c.275, s.3, eff. 7/18/1983.