In addition to any other sanctions herein or otherwise provided by law, the commissioner, upon notice and hearing, may impose a penalty not exceeding $500.00 for any violation of this act or of any rule or regulation duly issued hereunder. Such penalty shall be used for, and recovered by and in the name of the commissioner in a civil action by a summary proceeding under the Penalty Enforcement Law (N.J.S. 2A:58-1). Where any violation of this act or of any rule or regulation duly issued hereunder is of a continuing nature, each day during which such violation continues after the date fixed by the commissioner in any order or notice for the correction or termination of such violation, shall constitute an additional separate and distinct offense, except during the time an appeal from said order or notice may be taken or is pending. It shall be a complete defense to any action for a penalty pursuant to this section for the defendant to prove that the violation complained of is solely the result of the willful destruction by the occupants of any camp; provided, that proof of such fact shall not alter any duty to correct or terminate said violation as ordered by the commissioner.
N.J.S. § 34:9A-17