New Jersey § 56:6-4
Full text of New Jersey New Jersey Statutes § 56:6-4, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 56:6-4.
The following procedure shall be followed in actions for the enforcement of penalties
set forth in Article III of this act: 1 (a) The said penalty shall be sued for in the name of the Director of the Division
of Taxation. The Superior Court and every municipal court is hereby authorized, upon the filing of a complaint in writing, duly verified by
the Director of the Division of Taxation, or by any assistant or employee of the Director
of the Division of Taxation, which may be made upon information or belief, that any
retail dealer has violated any of the provisions of Article II of this act, 2 to issue process at the suit of the Director of the Division of Taxation as plaintiff. Such process shall be either in the nature of a summons or warrant, which may issue
without any order of the court or judge first being obtained against the person or
persons so charged. When such process shall be in the nature of a warrant, it shall be returnable forthwith,
and when in the nature of a summons, it shall be returnable in not less than five
nor more than ten days. Such process shall specify the section of the act which is alleged to have been
violated by the defendant or defendants, and upon the return of such process or at
any time to which the trial shall be adjourned, the said court shall proceed and summarily
hear the testimony and, without the filing of any pleadings, determine the matter
and give judgment, without a jury, either for the plaintiff for the recovery of such
penalty with costs or for the defendant. If judgment shall be rendered for the plaintiff, the court shall cause any defendant
who may refuse or fail to pay forthwith the amount of the judgment rendered against
him and all costs and charges incident thereto to be committed to the county jail
for any period not exceeding the period mentioned in Article III hereof. (b) The officers to serve and execute all process under this act shall be officers
authorized to serve all process out of said court. The court shall have the power to adjourn the hearing or trial in any case from time to time,
but in such case, except in case where the first process was a summons, it shall be
the duty of the judge to detain the defendant in safe custody unless he shall enter into a bond to the
Director of the Division of Taxation with at least one sufficient surety, in a sum
fixed by the court which shall be not less than fifty dollars ($50.00) nor more than
two hundred dollars ($200.00), conditioned for his appearance on the day to which
the hearing shall be adjourned and thence from day to day until the case is disposed
of, and then to abide by the judgment of the said court, and such bond if forfeited
may be prosecuted by said Director of the Division of Taxation. (c) The form of conviction in prosecutions under this article shall be in the following
or similar form: “State of New Jersey, ) ) ss. County of ) Be it remembered, that on this ․․․․․․․․․․ day of ․․․․․․․․․․, at ․․․․․․․․․․, in said County, ․․․․․․․․․․X, the defendant, was by (name of court) convicted of violating Section ․․․․․․․․․․ of Article II of an act entitled ‘An act to regulate the retail sale of motor fuels,
and providing penalties for violations' (date of approval of act) in a summary proceeding
at the suit of the Director of the Division of Taxation, upon a complaint by ․․․․․․․․․․; and, further, that the witnesses in said proceeding who testified for the plaintiff
were (name them), and the witnesses who testified for the defendant were (name them). Wherefore, the said court does hereby give judgment that the plaintiff recover of
the defendant ․․․․․․․․․․ dollars penalty and ․․․․․․․․․․ dollars costs of this proceeding.” The conviction shall be signed by the judge before whom the conviction is had. In case the defendant is committed to jail in default of payment of the penalty,
commitment in the following form shall be added beneath the judge's signature to the
conviction: “And the said X, neglecting and refusing to pay the amount of the penalty above mentioned,
with costs, it is hereby ordered that the said X be and he is hereby committed to
the common jail in the county of ․․․․․․․․․․ for a period of ․․․․․․․․․․ days, unless the said penalty and costs are sooner paid.” Such commitment shall also be signed by the judge and, in case of commitment of any
defendant to jail, the conviction and the commitment shall be signed in duplicate,
and one of the duplicate copies shall serve the purpose of a warrant of commitment. If a defendant who is committed to jail in default of payment of the penalty shall
serve the full period for which he shall be committed, upon his release from jail
he shall be entitled to have the judgment satisfied of record, and the certificate
of the warden of said jail that the said defendant has been detained for the period
specified in the commitment shall be sufficient warrant for the clerk of any court
in which the judgment for the penalty and costs is docketed to discharge the same
of record. (d) The clerk of the court may sign and seal any process required to issue under this
act, except a warrant of commitment. The costs recoverable in any such proceeding shall be the same as costs taxed in
actions in said court and shall be recoverable by said Director of the Division of
Taxation in the event of the conviction of the defendant. Execution may issue for the collection of any judgment obtained under this act against
the goods and chattels and body of the defendant without any order first obtained
for such purpose. (e) The Director of the Division of Taxation may file a bill in the Superior Court for an injunction to prohibit any habitual violation of this act, or any of the orders,
rules, or regulations made by the director, and every such action shall proceed in
the Superior Court according to the rules and practice of that court, and cases of emergency shall have
precedence over other litigation pending at the time in the Superior Court , and final hearing may be had within such time and on such notice as the court shall direct. 1
N.J.S.A. § 56:6-3. 2
N.J.S.A. § 56:6-2.
Frequently Asked Questions About New Jersey § 56:6-4
What does New Jersey Statutes § 56:6-4 cover?
Section 56:6-4 is part of the New Jersey Statutes, the codified statutory law of New Jersey. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
How do I cite New Jersey § 56:6-4?
A common citation format is "New Jersey Statutes § 56:6-4" (New Jersey). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.
Is this the official text of New Jersey law?
No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the New Jersey official source linked on this page or consult a licensed New Jersey attorney.
How does New Jersey § 56:6-4 apply to my situation?
Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in New Jersey can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.
Sources & Verification
Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in New Jersey.