§ 12-56-3. Trees near wires or street lights.

A.

No tree, limb or part thereof shall be allowed to interfere with the safe distribution of electrical energy and any wire carrying electric current in or adjacent to any public street, alley, highway, easement for utility purposes or public place, whether such wire is insulated or not. No tree, limb or part thereof shall be allowed to grow so as to obstruct the light from any electric lamp or other appliance used by the city for the lighting of its public streets and ways.

B.

Whenever it becomes necessary, in the extension of the city's fire and police signal system or the service of any public service corporation using wires carrying electricity in the furnishing of such service, to string or place overhead wires carrying currents of electricity through or across any public street, alley or place, or to erect any street lights, it shall be the duty of the city to see that no tree or parts thereof will violate subsection A of this section, and to this end it is authorized and empowered to remove or cause to be removed any tree, branch or limb in or overhanging any public street, alley or public place, interfering with such wires or street lighting.

C.

The Memphis light, gas and water division, through its personnel or agents, shall have the right to trim or top trees which are on public property or intrude on public property, and which are in proximity to electric conductors in the distribution system.

D.

The enforcement of this section shall be under the supervision of the director of public works or the Memphis light, gas and water division, as applicable, whose duty it shall be to direct the removal or trimming of any tree or part thereof which is in violation of subsection A of this section.

E.

It shall be a misdemeanor for any person to interfere with the director of public works, the Memphis light, gas and water division, or persons working under their direction in the trimming or removing of trees under the provisions of this section.

(Code 1967, § 29-3; Code 1985, § 27-3)