45:8-39. Practice without license and other violations; penalties; actions for penalties
13. a. Any person who, hereafter, is not legally authorized to practice professional engineering or land surveying in this State according to the provisions of this act, who shall so practice or offer so to practice in this State, except as provided in section 14 of this act, or any person presenting or attempting to file as his own the certificate of license of another, or who shall give false or forged evidence of any kind to the board, or to any member or representative thereof, in obtaining a certificate of license, or who shall falsely impersonate another licensed practitioner of like or different name, or who shall use or attempt to use an expired certificate of license, an unexpired and revoked certificate of license, or a certificate of license which is on a retired status list, or who shall use either the title "Engineer-in-Training" or "Surveyor-in-Training" without holding a valid certificate of registration issued by the board, or who shall otherwise violate any of the provisions of this act, shall be subject to a penalty of not more than $200.00 for the first offense and not more than $500.00 for each and every subsequent offense. The penalties provided for by this section shall be sued for and recovered in civil actions by the State Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors.
b. Pursuant to the provisions of the "Building Design Services Act," P.L.1989, c.277 (C.45:4B-1 et seq.) the board:
(1) May refer any complaint, question or controversy involving the application of that act to the joint committee.
(2) Shall take no disciplinary action against any licensed architect alleged to have engaged in a violation of that act or the unlicensed practice of engineering.
(3) Shall refer a request for a declaratory ruling to the joint committee.
(4) Shall provide any and all documents in its possession regarding any matter referred to the joint committee.
(5) Shall, when necessary and appropriate, exercise the investigation or enforcement powers conferred by law to aid and assist the joint committee in its functions.
(6) Shall, consistent with that act, discipline any professional engineer who, or business association authorized to offer engineering services which, violates that act. Such a violation shall be deemed professional misconduct. Any violation of that act by an unlicensed individual or unauthorized business association shall be disciplined by the New Jersey State Board of Architects pursuant to the provisions of P.L.1978, c.73 (C.45:1-14 et seq.). Such a violation shall be deemed the unlicensed practice of architecture. However, the design of an engineering work by an unlicensed individual or unauthorized business association shall be disciplined by the State Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors pursuant to the provisions of P.L.1978, c.73 (C.45:1-14 et seq.). Such a violation shall be deemed the unlicensed practice of engineering.
c. No person, firm, partnership, association or corporation shall bring or maintain any action in the courts of this State for the collection of compensation for services constituting the practice of engineering or land surveying without alleging and proving that he was duly licensed in accordance with this chapter at the time the alleged cause of action arose.
d. The Superior Court shall have jurisdiction of actions for penalties under this act.
L.1938,c.342,s.13; amended 1947,c.60,s.2; 1950,c.149,s.13; 1952,c.129; 1953,c.43,s.38; 1970,c.177,s.3; 1989,c.276,s.4; 1992,c.64,s.4; 1995,c.36,s.2.