45:14D-29 - Furnishing of binding estimate in writing; violations, penalties
45:14D-29 Furnishing of binding estimate in writing; violations, penalties.
6. a. If a binding estimate is used for moving, the estimate shall be furnished in writing to the customer or other person responsible for payment of the charges for the mover's services and a copy of the estimate shall be retained by the public mover as an addendum to the bill of lading. A binding estimate shall clearly indicate on its face that the estimate is binding on the public mover and that the charges shown are the charges to be assessed for the services identified in the estimate. A binding estimate shall clearly describe the property to be moved and all services to be provided. If, at the time of the move, additional property is to be moved or additional services are to be provided, or both, that are in excess of that provided in the binding estimate, the mover shall not charge, demand, collect or receive a greater compensation for those services than specified in his filed tariff.
b. (1) No mover shall withhold all or any part of a shipment if the amount due on the moving contract based on a binding estimate in regard to the move is offered to be paid, or is paid, in full to the mover.
(2)No mover shall withhold all or any part of a shipment pursuant to a moving contract not based on a binding estimate unless the mover discloses in the moving contract that the mover may withhold all or a part of the shipment for payment of the freight bill.
c.A mover shall disclose in the moving contract that the mover may not withhold all or any part of a shipment if:
(1)the moving contract is based on a binding estimate and the amount due on a binding estimate for the move is offered to be paid, or is paid, in full to the mover; and
(2)the moving contract is not based on a binding estimate and the mover has not otherwise disclosed in the moving contract that the mover may withhold all or any part of the shipment for payment of the freight bill.
d.A mover which violates any provision of this section shall be liable to a civil penalty of not less than $1,000 nor more than $5,000 for a first violation and not less than $5,000 nor more than $10,000 for a subsequent violation. The penalty prescribed in this section shall be collected and enforced by summary proceedings pursuant to "the penalty enforcement law" (N.J.S.2A:58-1 et seq.).
L.1998,c.60,s.6.