The deputy director may assess a civil penalty in an amount of not more than $5,000 against a person, including any officer, director, employee, agent or other person who participates in the conduct of the affairs of the person, for any knowing violation of any provision of this title or of any rule or order adopted or issued pursuant to this title. If the assessment is not paid in full within thirty days after the service of the notice of the assessment on the person, the attorney general, on request of the deputy director, shall bring an action in the superior court in the county in which a violation of this section is alleged to have occurred in the same manner as the filing of other actions. On the finding of a knowing violation of this section by the defendant in any such action, the court may enforce the civil penalty imposed by the deputy director or may impose a different civil penalty in an amount as it deems appropriate for each violation. Each day of violation constitutes a separate offense.