(a) Any individual or any member, officer, director, agent, or employee of any firm, voluntary association, joint-stock company, incorporated society, or corporation who shall violate or participate in the violation of any of the provisions of this part shall be punished by a fine of not more than the amount set forth in [§ 22-3571.01] or by imprisonment for not more than 90 days.

(b) Any contract of loan in the making or collection of which any act shall have been done which constitutes a violation of any of the provisions of this part shall be void and the lender shall have no right to collect or receive any principal, interest, or charges whatsoever on account thereof. Any person pledging any goods, article, or other thing as security for a loan which is void shall be entitled to the return of such goods, article, or thing without being required to pay any principal, interest, or other charge on account of such void loan.

(c) Civil fines, penalties, and fees may be imposed as alternative sanctions for any infraction of the provisions of this part, or any rules or regulations issued under the authority of this part, pursuant to Chapter 18 of Title 2. Adjudication of any infraction of this part shall be pursuant to Chapter 18 of Title 2.

(Aug. 6, 1956, 70 Stat. 1042, ch. 970, § 16; Oct. 5, 1985, D.C. Law 6-42, § 439, 32 DCR 4450; Sept. 26, 2012, D.C. Law 19-171, § 302, 59 DCR 6190; June 11, 2013, D.C. Law 19-317, § 286(v), 60 DCR 2064.)

1981 Ed., § 2-1916.

1973 Ed., § 2-2016.

D.C. Law 19-171 enacted this subchapter into law.

The 2013 amendment by D.C. Law 19-317 substituted “of not more than the amount set forth in [§ 22-3571.01]” for “of not more than $300” in (a).

For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 286(v) of the Criminal Fine Proportionality Emergency Act of 2013 (D.C. Act 20-45, April 1, 2013, 60 DCR 5400, 20 DCSTAT 1300).

Applicability of D.C. Law 19-317: Section 401 of D.C. Law 19-317 provided that the act shall apply only to offenses committed on or after June 11, 2013.