Any person who violates any of the provisions of, or who fails to perform any duty imposed by article thirty-eight or any regulation promulgated by the commissioner thereunder, shall be liable to a civil penalty of not more than twenty-five hundred dollars for each such violation and an additional penalty of not more than five hundred dollars for each day during which such violation continues, and, in addition thereto, such person may be enjoined from continuing such violation. Penalties and injunctive relief provided herein shall be recoverable in an action brought by the attorney general acting alone or at the request of the commissioner.