Any person who shall violate any provision of this act, or any rule or regulation of the State department made pursuant thereto, or who shall refuse to comply with any lawful order or direction of the department, shall be liable to the following penalties:
a. One hundred dollars ($100.00) for the first offense;
b. Two hundred dollars ($200.00) for the second offense; and
c. Five hundred dollars ($500.00) for the third and each subsequent offense, which shall be sued for and recovered in a civil action by, and in the name of, the State Department of Health or by and in the name of the local board of health, as the case may be, as plaintiff.