New Jersey § 56:8-14

§ 56:8-14.

In any action in a court of appropriate jurisdiction initiated by the director of

any certified county or municipal office of consumer affairs, the office of consumer

affairs shall be entitled, if successful in the action, to such penalties, fines or

fees as may be authorized pursuant to chapter 8 of Title 56 of the Revised Statutes

and awarded by the court, and to the reasonable costs of any such action, including

investigative and legal costs, as may be filed with and approved by the court. Such costs shall be in addition to the taxed costs authorized in successful proceedings

under the Rules Governing the Courts of the State of New Jersey. As used in this section, “ court of appropriate jurisdiction ” includes a municipal court in the municipality where the offense was committed or

where the defendant may be found and a central municipal court in the county where the offense was committed or where

the defendant may be found . However, the term shall not include a municipal court in a city of the first class

if the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court approves a recommendation submitted by the

assignment judge of the vicinage in which the court is located to exempt that court

from such jurisdiction. All moneys collected pursuant to this section shall be paid to the officer lawfully

charged with the custody of the general funds of the county or municipality.