Section 56:12-16.1 - Consumer contract relative to motor vehicle; right of consumer to make statements; violations, penalties.

NJ Rev Stat § 56:12-16.1 (2019) (N/A)
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56:12-16.1 Consumer contract relative to motor vehicle; right of consumer to make statements; violations, penalties.

1. a. Notwithstanding the provisions of P.L.1981, c.454 (C.56:12-14 et seq.) or any other law to the contrary, and in addition to any other remedy available under law, a consumer contract for the purchase, lease or repair of a motor vehicle shall not contain any provision which waives a consumer's right to make any statement, or penalizes a consumer for making any statement, including a statement posted on the Internet, regarding the manufacturer, seller or lessor of the motor vehicle, or its employees or agents, or concerning any goods or services rendered pursuant to the contract.

b. If the Attorney General determines that a manufacturer, seller or lessor is in violation of this section, the Attorney General may impose upon that manufacturer, seller or lessor a civil penalty in an amount up to $5,000 for the first violation and up to $10,000 for each and every subsequent violation, collectible in an action brought in the name of the Attorney General pursuant to the provisions of the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999," P.L.1999, c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.).

c. In addition to the penalties described in subsection b. of this section, or any other remedy available under law, any person aggrieved by a violation of this section may bring an action in Superior Court to recover damages.

L.2017, c.371, s.1.