Upon receiving evidence of any violation of the provisions of chapter 39 of the laws of 1960, the Attorney General, or his designee, is empowered to hold hearings upon said violation and upon finding the violation to have been committed, to assess a penalty against the person alleged to have committed such violation in such amount within the limits of chapter 39 of the laws of 1966 as the Attorney General deems proper under the circumstances. Any such amounts collected by the Attorney General shall be paid forthwith into the State Treasury for the general purposes of the State.
N.J.S. § 56:8-3.1