All hedges growing along any of the public roads in this State shall be trimmed at least once in every year to a height of not more than 41/2 feet, and the owner, tenant or occupant of any land upon which such hedge is so growing shall so trim such hedge. None of the trimmings removed from such hedge shall be allowed to remain on any of the public roads longer than 2 weeks, but shall be removed therefrom by the party doing the trimming. Nothing in this section shall be construed to compel the owner, tenant or occupant of any land upon which such hedge is so growing to remove from the public roads any of such trimmings that cannot be removed by the use of an ordinary horse rake, and such owner, tenant or occupant shall not be compelled to remove the small trimmings within 5 feet of such hedge.
Where hedges are cut down for the purpose of laying or allowing to thicken, the same may be permitted to grow without trimming for a period of 3 years.
Whoever fails to perform any of the duties imposed by this section shall be fined not more than $50 and, in default of payment thereof, may be imprisoned not more than 60 days.