Overweight Ticket Oregon Split Axle Flatbed

I am asking for advice as well as public announcement to flatbed drivers with split axles.
I was loaded with railroad tie downs (lumber) in Klamath falls. Load was suppose to be heavy so I split my axles: my trailer can be tandem or split. I went to the pilot and weighed my truck before the scales. I didn’t weigh it as split axle but just regular (big mistake) my weight according to the cat scale was under 71k and my trailer was under 29k. I didn’t think twice and would never have even thought that the weight could be all on a single axle. I get to the scale and they said that my gross weight was 74k a difference of 3500 lbs compared to the cat scale and that my split trailer axles were 6k on the 4th axle and over 25k on the 5th axle. Ticket is $795.
I told the DOT that I can close my axles and be legal and that I was trying to just work and not cheat the system. I showed him the cat scale, but he didn’t give me a break. Not sure if he didn’t have discretion in this matter or he just didn’t care. He did make me reweigh with my tandems closed before being allowed to leave the scale.
Requesting Advice: is there a truckers lawyer for this that won’t cost more than the ticket?
Would you pay it since it won’t affect your driving record?
Would you bring it to the cat scales attention for any type of reprieve?

Public Announcement: Even if you know your good on your trailer axle weight since it’s split, please make sure you individual axles are legal.
Supporting Pictures Attached

 

Yes. The 5th axle. The length of the load was around 45-48ft so I felt sure that having my axles spread was the right idea. I have a 53ft trailer.

 

Didn’t think of that. I will look into it.