Section 28-4-136 Penalties for Violations of Provisions of Article by Railroad Companies, Express Companies, Etc.; Duties of District Attorney in Cases of Grand Jury Indictments.

(a) Any railroad company, express company or other carrier or any person or corporation violating any of the provisions of this article or failing to comply with any requirements thereof shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not less than $50.00 nor more than $500.00, to which, at the discretion of the court, may be added imprisonment in the county jail or confinement at hard labor for the county for not more than six months for the first conviction. On the second and every subsequent conviction of a violation of any provisions of this article, the offense shall, in addition to a fine within the limitations above named, be punishable by imprisonment in the county jail or at hard labor for the county for not less than three nor more than six months, to be imposed by the court. (b) It shall be the duty of the district attorney in all cases of indictment by the grand jury to ascertain whether or not the charge made by the grand jury is the first or subsequent offense and, if the latter, it shall be so stated in the indictment and returned, and he shall introduce proper evidence before the trial court showing that it is a subsequent offense and shall not be permitted to use his discretion in charging said second offense or in introducing evidence and proving the same on trial.