Sec. 25-110. Removal of utility wires; option

When necessary to prune or remove any tree in a street any person having utility wires running through such street shall temporarily remove such utility wires within twenty-four (24) hours after the service of a notice from the Department of Public Works and Transportation upon the owner of such utility wires, or his agent.

Any utility company, instead of temporarily removing service wires, shall have the option of pruning, topping or removing such trees under the direction of the Department of Public Works and Transportation and the State Department of Natural Resources.

Emergency means, as used in Section 25-109 and Section 25-110 of this Division, a serious, sudden, and unexpected happening or unforeseen occurrence or condition that requires immediate corrective action to protect the safety of the general public or to restore service. Removal of utility wires shall be within a twenty-four-hour period after notice for emergency situations, with the exception of service supplied by electric companies, set forth in the Downed Wire Response Standard, COMAR Sec. 20.50.12.07.

Emergency — The Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement is authorized to fine, stop work, and take other remedial actions, as needed.

Non-Emergency Removal — Notwithstanding Section 25-110(a) through (d) of this Division, utilities shall remove other downed utility wires within thirty (30) calendar days of a utility being made aware of a downed utility wire, and the County shall establish a process to notify all utilities when a complaint is made and may impose a civil fine(s), as set forth in Section 25-110(f), if utility wires are not removed in that time period.

The Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement is authorized to issue a civil fine of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) for a first offense and One Thousand Dollars ($1,000) for each subsequent offense, to a utility company that fails to comply with either/and Sections 25-110(a), 25-110(b), 25-110(c), 25-110(d), 25-110(e), respectively, as set forth herein, in this Division.