(a) No person, having charge of any vehicle, shall run into or against any curbing, sidewalk, any danger signal, warning sign or standard thereof along any street or public way, thereby cracking, breaking or otherwise injuring it, or shall crack, break or otherwise injure or deface the same by unloading or throwing upon it in a hasty, rough or careless manner, any stone, iron, building material or other heavy body or substance.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor. If, within one year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to one predicate motor vehicle or traffic offense, whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. If, within one year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of two or more predicate motor vehicle or traffic offenses, whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree.