45:14D-17 Investigations of suspected violations.

7. Whenever it shall appear to the director or the Attorney General that a person has engaged in, or is engaging in, any act or practice declared unlawful by P.L.1981, c.311 (C.45:14D-1 et seq.), or when the director or the Attorney General shall deem it to be in the public interest to inquire whether a violation may exist, the director through the Attorney General, or the Attorney General acting independently, may:

a. Require any person to file, on a form to be prescribed, a statement or report in writing under oath, or otherwise, as to the facts and circumstances concerning the rendition of any service or conduct of any sale incidental to the discharge of any act or practice subject to that act;

b. Examine under oath any person in connection with any act or practice subject to that act;

c. Inspect any premises from which the activity regulated by that act is conducted;

d. Examine any goods, ware or item used in the rendition of any service by a public mover or warehouseman;

e. Examine any record, book, document, account or paper maintained by or for any public mover or warehouseman in the regular course of engaging in the activities regulated by that act or regulations promulgated pursuant to that act;

f. For the purpose of preserving evidence of an unlawful act or practice, pursuant to an order of the Superior Court, impound any record, book, document, account, paper, goods, ware, or item used or maintained by or for any public mover or warehouseman in the regular course of engaging in the activities regulated by that act or regulations promulgated pursuant to that act. When necessary, the Superior Court may, on application of the Attorney General, issue an order sealing items or material subject to this subsection.

In order to accomplish the objectives of P.L.1981, c.311 (C.45:14D-1 et seq.) or the regulations promulgated pursuant to that act, the director or the Attorney General may hold investigative hearings as necessary and may issue subpoenas to compel the attendance of any person or the production of books, records or papers at a hearing or inquiry.

L.1984, c.140, s.7; amended 1993, c.365, s.11; 2010, c.87, s.35.