Whenever any passenger train on any railroad in this state is more than one-half hour behind its schedule time when it passes a depot at which there is a telegraph operator during the hours such operator is required to be on duty, it shall be the duty of the railroad company to keep posted at every succeeding telegraph station along its line the time such train is behind its schedule, provided that such bulletin shall not be required to be posted at any station until one-half hour before the regularly scheduled time at which such train is to arrive at the station at which such bulletin is required to be kept. For every willful violation of this Code section, the railroad company shall be liable to pay to the state a civil penalty of $20.00, which may be collected by an action in any court having competent jurisdiction.