Section 37-2-16 Penalty for Discrimination.

(a) If any transportation company subject to the provisions of this chapter, or any agent or officer thereof, shall, directly or indirectly, or by special rate, rebate, drawback or other consideration, or by means of false billing, false classification, false weighing, false report of weights or by any device whatsoever, charge, demand, collect or receive from any person, firm, company or corporation a greater or less compensation for any service rendered or to be rendered by it for the transportation of persons or property, or for any service in connection therewith, than that prescribed in the published tariffs, or than it charges, demands, collects or receives from any other person, firm, company or corporation for a like service, such transportation company so doing shall be deemed guilty of unjust discrimination, which is hereby prohibited and declared unlawful, and shall forfeit to the State of Alabama and pay into the state treasury not less than $100.00 nor more than $10,000.00 for each offense. (b) If any transportation company shall directly or indirectly make or give any undue or unreasonable preference or advantage to any particular person, firm, corporation or locality, or subject any particular person, firm, or corporation or locality to any undue or unreasonable prejudice or disadvantage in any respect whatsoever, such transportation company shall be guilty of unjust discrimination, which is hereby prohibited and declared unlawful, and shall be liable to the state in a penalty of not less than $500.00 nor more than $5,000.00 for each offense.