Violations; fine; levy and collection

a. Any person who violates any provision of this act or of a rule adopted under it or any person who in an application for registration filed for registration makes any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact shall be fined not less than $250.00, nor more than $50,000.00 per violation. b. The commissioner, through the agency, may levy and collect the penalties set forth in subsection a. hereof after affording the person alleged to be in violation of this act an opportunity to appear before the commissioner or his designee and to be heard personally or through counsel on the alleged violations and a finding by the commissioner that said person is guilty of the violation. When a penalty so levied by the commissioner has not been satisfied within 30 days of the levy, the penalty may be sued for and recovered by and in the name of the commissioner in a summary proceeding pursuant to the Penalty Enforcement Law (N.J.S. 2A:58-1 et seq.). c. The agency may in the interest of justice compromise any civil penalty, if in its determination the gravity of the offense or offenses does not warrant the assessment of the full fine.