i agree the NEC is not law, and it says so somewhere in it
the law comes in with the adopting of the NEC in whole, in part, and or in addition to the rules of the local jurisdiction that adopted it along with the statutes they apply.
many have fines, some places are astonishing amounts
without a law they could not levy a fine
whatever they adopt and or legislate is their law, but still not the law of the nec