(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1) of this section, if the Department of Transportation, county governing body or designated agent of the department or governing body, whichever is applicable, determines that a traffic or pedestrian hazard is created by the noncompliance which causes imminent danger of personal injury, it may:
(a) Order the construction removed, repaired or maintained to eliminate the hazard, within 24 hours after delivery of written notice to the applicant, and to the owner of the property on which the noncompliance occurred.
(b) If the hazard is not removed within the time set under paragraph (a) of this subsection, remove the hazard and recover the expenses of any removal, repair or maintenance from the applicant in any court of competent jurisdiction. [Amended by 1955 c.424 §3; 1979 c.873 §2]