An Act concerning payments by consumers and supplementing P.L.1960, c.39 (C.56:8-1 et seq.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
C.56:8-2.33 Discrimination against cash-paying customers prohibited; violations, penalties; exceptions.
1. a. A person selling or offering for sale goods or services at retail shall not require a buyer to pay using credit or to prohibit cash as payment in order to purchase the goods or services. A person selling or offering for sale goods or services at retail shall accept legal tender when offered by the buyer as payment.
b. A person in violation of subsection a. of this section shall be subject to a civil penalty of up to $2,500 for a first offense and up to $5,000 for a second offense, to be collected in a civil action by a summary proceeding under the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999," P.L.1999, c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.). The Superior Court shall have jurisdiction of proceedings for the enforcement of the penalty provided by this section.
A third violation of subsection a. of this section is an unlawful practice under P.L.1960, c.39 (C.56:8-1 et seq.), and for the purposes of this subsection shall be considered a first offense under P.L.1960, c.39 (C.56:8-1 et seq.).
A fourth or subsequent violation of subsection a. of this section is an unlawful practice under P.L.1960, c.39 (C.56:8-1 et seq.), and for the purposes of this subsection shall be considered a subsequent offense under P.L.1960, c.39 (C.56:8-1 et seq.).
c. The provisions of this section shall not apply to:
(1) any person selling goods or services at an airport, provided that at least two persons selling food at each terminal within the airport accept cash as payment;
(2) any parking facility owned by a municipality, regardless of whether the facility is operated by the municipality, a parking authority, or an independent third party;
(3) any parking facility that accepts mobile payment, provided that the facility does not accept payment by any means other than mobile payment ; and
(4) any company in the business of renting motor vehicles, provided that the company accepts a cashier’s check or a certified check when offered by a buyer as payment.
d. As used in this section, “at retail” shall include any retail transaction conducted in person and exclude any telephone, mail, or Internet-based transaction.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Approved March 18, 2019.