4. Any landlord or his agent whose negligence or failure to act results in municipal action pursuant to section 2 of this act shall be liable to a civil penalty of not more than $300.00 for each affected dwelling unit in the residential property. Such penalty shall be recoverable by the municipality in a civil action by a summary proceeding under “the penalty enforcement law” (N.J.S. 2A:58-1 et seq.). Any action to collect or enforce any such penalty shall be brought in the Superior Court or municipal court. The amount of such penalty shall be paid to the municipality to be used for general municipal purposes.

L.1980,c.170,s.4; amended 1991,c.91,s.289.