58-28-13. Placement of insurance business.

(a) An insurer shall not transact insurance business in this State unless it is an admitted insurer, is exempted by this Article, or is otherwise exempted by this Chapter.

(b) A person shall not transact insurance business or in this State directly or indirectly act as agent for, or otherwise represent or aid on behalf of another, a nonadmitted insurer in the solicitation, negotiation, procurement, or effectuation of insurance, or renewals of insurance; forwarding of applications; delivery of policies or contracts; inspection of risks; fixing of rates; investigation or adjustment of claims or losses; collection or forwarding of premiums; or in any other manner represent or assist the insurer in transacting insurance business.

(c) A person who represents or aids a nonadmitted insurer in violation of this section is subject to penalties or restitution, or both, as set forth in this section.

(d) This section does not prohibit employees, officers, directors, or partners of a commercial insured from acting in the capacity of an insurance manager or buyer in placing insurance on behalf of the employer, provided that the person's compensation is not based on buying insurance.

(e) The venue of an act committed by mail or any other medium is at the point where the matter transmitted by mail or other medium is delivered or issued for delivery or takes effect.

(f) The remedies prescribed in this section are not exclusive. Penalties may also be assessed under Article 63 of this Chapter or G.S. 58-2-161, or both.

(g) If the Commissioner finds a violation of this section, the Commissioner may order the payment of a monetary penalty after considering the factors in G.S. 58-28-14; or petition the Superior Court of Wake County for an order directing payment of restitution as provided in subsection (i) of this section; or both. The monetary penalty shall not exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000) for the first offense and shall not exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each succeeding offense. Each day during which a violation occurs constitutes a separate violation. The clear proceeds of the penalty shall be remitted to the Civil Penalty and Forfeiture Fund in accordance with G.S. 115C-457.2. Payment of the civil penalty under this section shall be in addition to payment of any other penalty for a violation of the criminal laws of this State.

(h) Upon petition of the Commissioner, the Superior Court of Wake County may order the person who committed a violation specified in this section to make restitution in an amount that would make whole any person harmed by the violation. The petition may be made at any time and also in any appeal of any order issued by the Commissioner.

(i) Restitution to the Department for extraordinary administrative expenses incurred in the investigation and hearing of the violation may also be ordered by the court in such amount that would reimburse the Department for the expenses.

(j) Nothing in this section prevents the Commissioner from negotiating a mutually acceptable agreement with any person as to any civil penalty or restitution.

(k) The Attorney General of the State of North Carolina at the request of and upon information from the Commissioner shall initiate a civil action in behalf of the Commissioner in any county of the State in which a violation under this section occurs to recover the penalty provided. Service of process upon the nonadmitted insurer shall be made under G.S. 58-28-40.