304.240.  Violation of load law a misdemeanor — penalty — local log truck and local log truck tractor, violation, penalty. — 1.  Any person, firm, corporation, partnership or association violating any of the provisions of sections 304.170 to 304.230 shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine of not less than five dollars or by confinement in a county jail for not more than twelve months, or by both the fine and confinement; provided, however, that where load limits as defined in sections 304.180 to 304.220 have been violated, the fine shall be two cents for each pound of excess weight up to and including five hundred, and five cents for each pound of excess weight above five hundred and not exceeding one thousand, and ten cents for each pound in excess weight above one thousand; provided that, when any vehicle is being operated under a special permit as provided in section 304.200, the term "excess weight" means only weight in excess of the amount permitted in the permit as issued.  The court may, in its discretion, cause to be impounded the motor vehicle operated by any person violating the provisions of this section until such time as the fine and cost assessed by the court under this section is paid.

  2.  Notwithstanding subsection 1 of this section, the fine for a load-limit violation under sections 304.180 to 304.220 involving a local log truck or a local log truck tractor, as such terms are defined in section 301.010, shall be as follows:

  (1)  If the weight exceeds the limit by one pound to four thousand nine hundred ninety-nine pounds, the fine shall be ten cents for each pound of excess weight;

  (2)  If the weight exceeds the limit by five thousand pounds to nine thousand nine hundred ninety-nine pounds, the fine shall be twenty cents for each pound of excess weight; and

  (3)  If the weight exceeds the limit by ten thousand pounds or more, the fine shall be fifty cents for each pound of excess weight.