Injury to or taking of wild flowers, plants or trees; penalty

A person who, without the personal direction or written consent of the owner of the property, shall: a. Remove, cut, break, injure or destroy any tree, shrub, flower, vine or moss, or attempt so to do; b. Take any tree, holly, laurel, rhododendrons, winterberry or ground pine-- Shall be punishable by a fine of not less than ten nor more than one hundred dollars in an action at law to be commenced within three months from the time of the commission of the offense. Nothing in this section shall apply to public utility companies or their agents engaged in the performance of public utility company duties.