SENATE, No. 2441
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
210th LEGISLATURE
INTRODUCED MARCH 20, 2003
Sponsored by:
Senator ROBERT J. MARTIN
District 26 (Morris and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Increases maximum penalty for "State Uniform Construction Code Act" violations from $500 to $2,000.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning certain penalties under the "State Uniform Construction Code Act" and amending P.L.1975, c.217.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 20 of P.L.1975, c.217 (C.52:27D-138) is amended to read as follows:
20. a. Any person or corporation, including an officer, director or employee of a corporation, who:
(1) Violates any of the provisions of this act or rules promulgated hereunder;
(2) Constructs a structure or building in violation of a condition of a building permit;
(3) Fails to comply with any order issued by an enforcing agency or the department;
(4) Makes a false or misleading written statement, or omits any required information or statement in any application or request for approval to an enforcing agency or the department;
(5) Knowingly sells or offers for retail sale any item, device or material, the regular and intended use of which would violate any provision of the State Uniform Construction Code;
Shall be subject to a penalty of not more than [$500.00] $2,000; provided, however, that any penalties in excess of $500.00 per violation may be levied by an enforcing agency only in accordance with subsection e. below.
Paragraph (5) above does not prohibit the retail sale or offering for retail sale of any item, device or material which has more than one regular and intended use, if one of those uses does not violate the code, provided that the item, device or material is not publicly advertised or otherwise promoted by the seller or manufacturer as suitable for a use that would violate any provisions of the code.
b. Anyone who knowingly refuses entry or access to an inspector lawfully authorized to inspect any premises, building or structure pursuant to this act or who unreasonably interferes with such an inspection shall be subject to a fine of not more than $250.00.
c. With respect to subsection a. (3) of this section, a person shall be guilty of a separate offense for each day that he fails to comply with a stop construction order validly issued by an enforcing agency or the department and for each week that he fails to comply with any other order validly issued by an enforcing agency or the department. With respect to subsections a. (1) and a. (4) of this section, a person shall be guilty of a separate offense for each violation of any provision of this act or rules promulgated hereunder and for each false or misleading written statement or omission of required information or statement made in any application or request for approval to an enforcing agency or the department. With respect to subsection a. (2) of the section, a person shall be guilty of a separate offense for each violation of the conditions of a construction permit.
d. The penalties pursuant to this section may be collected in a summary proceeding pursuant to the "Penalty Enforcement Law" (N.J.S.2A:58-1 et seq.). Jurisdiction to enforce such penalties is hereby conferred upon judges of the municipal court, in addition to the courts specified by N.J.S.2A:58-2. Suit may be brought by a municipality or the State of New Jersey. Payment of a money judgment pursuant hereto shall be remitted, in the case of a suit brought by a municipality, to the municipal treasurer and in the case of a suit brought by the State of New Jersey, to the State Treasurer.
e. Penalties in excess of $500.00 per violation may be levied by an enforcing agency only as follows:
(1) A penalty for failure or refusal to comply with any lawful order shall not exceed $1,000.00 per violation, unless the failure or refusal to comply is done with the knowledge that it will endanger the life or safety of any person, in which case the penalty shall not exceed $2,000.00 per violation;
(2) A penalty for failure to obtain a required permit prior to commencing construction or for allowing a building to be occupied without a certificate of occupancy shall not exceed $2,000.00 per violation;
(3) A penalty for failure to comply with a stop construction order shall not exceed $2,000.00 per violation;
(4) A penalty for willfully making a false or misleading written statement, or willfully omitting any required information or statement in any application or request for approval, shall not exceed $2,000.00 per violation;
For purposes of this subsection, in an occupied building, only a code violation involving fire safety, structural soundness or the malfunctioning of mechanical equipment that would pose a life safety hazard shall be deemed to endanger the life or safety of a person. In an unoccupied building only a code violation of a requirement intended to protect members of the public who are walking by the property shall be deemed to endanger the life or safety of a person.
(cf: P.L.1983, c.83, s.1)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
As amended, this bill increases the per violation penalty amount permitted under the provisions of the "State Uniform Construction Code Act," from $500 to $2,000, and limits the amount which can be charged in excess over $500 for separate violations under certain circumstances. The penalty has remained unchanged since the enactment of the law in 1975.
The increased penalty under this bill would serve as a greater deterrent against violations of the "State Uniform Construction Code Act" by individuals engaged in construction projects in municipalities throughout the State.
The bill limits the amount of a penalty to $2,000 per violation, but provides an additional limit on the amount of a penalty which can be charged over $500 for each violation as follows:
(1) A penalty for failure or refusal to comply with any lawful order shall not exceed $1,000.00 per violation, unless the failure or refusal to comply is done with the knowledge that it will endanger the life or safety of any person, in which case the penalty shall not exceed $2,000.00 per violation;
(2) A penalty for failure to obtain a required permit prior to commencing construction or for allowing a building to be occupied without a certificate of occupancy shall not exceed $2,000.00 per violation;
(3) A penalty for failure to comply with a stop construction order shall not exceed $2,000.00 per violation;
(4) A penalty for willfully making a false or misleading written statement, or willfully omitting any required information or statement in any application or request for approval, shall not exceed $2,000.00 per violation;
The bill defines the situations under which a code violation in an occupied building would be deemed to endanger life or safety as those situations in which the violation involves fire safety, structural soundness or any malfunctioning of mechanical equipment that would pose a life safety hazard. A code violation in a unoccupied building would be deemed to endanger life or safety only if the violation involves a violation of any code requirement intended to protect the safety of members of the public walking by the property.