Before I retired (LE) we wrote illegal combinations and overlengths all the time. Not only did the driver get at least 1 citation but they dropped whatever they were towing had to be dropped. The driver had to figure where to move it and if he didn't or couldn't we would. He then had to pay the tow bill and storage until he come for it. Wasn't cheap.
We didn't cut them any slack and the reason was obvious. Like you, they knew it was illegal but they decided to do it anyway. If they intentionally violated the law then they could pay full frieght for knowing violate the law and thinking they could slide thru.