Any person violating any of the provisions of this Article is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The Board may appear in its own name in the superior courts in an action for injunctive relief to prevent violation of this Article and the superior courts have power to grant injunctions regardless of whether criminal prosecution has been or may be instituted as a result of violations. Actions under this section shall be commenced in the superior court district or set of districts as defined in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-41.1 in which the respondent resides or has a principal place of business or in which the alleged acts occurred. (1959, c. 1271, s. 13; 1981 (Reg. Sess., 1982), c. 1274, s. 2; 1987 (Reg. Sess., 1988), c. 1037, s. 104; 1993, c. 539, s. 653; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c); 2021-84, s. 9.)