The commissioner may recover the penalties imposed for violations of this Article and any rules and regulations promulgated thereunder in a civil action brought in the commissioner’s own name, the venue to be as in other civil actions and, if the commissioner prevails in that action, the commissioner may recover full costs, including, but not limited to, attorney’s fees. The commissioner is entitled to the assistance of the Attorney General and of the several district attorneys. [PL 2005, c. 333, §5 (AMD).]