Any company or person exercising or attempting to exercise a railroad franchise without statutory authority shall be liable to a penalty of two hundred and fifty dollars for each offense, to be sued for and recovered in the name of the state. One-half of the fine shall be paid to the informer and the other half into the treasury of the county where the action shall be tried or conviction had. This penalty is not exclusive of any other remedies.
N.J.S. § 48:12-157