Source: https://ecode360.com/14955836
Timestamp: 2017-10-21 10:21:43
Document Index: 767857147

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 808', '§ 808', '§ 808', '§ 808', '§ 808', '§ 808', '§ 808', '§ 808', '§ 808']

Suffolk County, NY Utilities
Ch 808 Art I Utility Poles on County Road Rights-of-Way
§ 808-1 Legislative intent.
§ 808-2 Definitions.
§ 808-3 Department notification; time frame for removal.
§ 808-4 Permit requirements.
§ 808-5 Penalties for offenses.
§ 808-6 Notification to pole owner.
Chapter 808: Utilities
Wireless communications — See Ch. 1184.
808a Uncod LL Pro
Chapter 808 : Utilities
Article I Utility Poles on County Road Rights-of-Way
Article I: Utility Poles on County Road Rights-of-Way
[Adopted 8-3-2010 by L.L. No. 46-2010 (Ch. 465A of the 1985 Code)]
This Legislature hereby finds and determines that public utility companies place poles in County road rights-of-way to facilitate the delivery of electric, telephone and cable television services to the residents of Suffolk County. This Legislature also finds that utility poles are frequently damaged by traffic accidents and adverse weather conditions. This Legislature determines that public safety can be compromised when utility lines and equipment remain affixed to damaged poles for unreasonably long periods of time. This Legislature further determines that a utility's delay in removing lines and equipment also delays the removal of the pole itself, which causes a proliferation of aesthetically unpleasant "double woods" along roadways. This Legislature also finds and determines that local governments have the authority to regulate their roads and rights-of-way to protect the public. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to require utilities that utilize County road rights-of-way to remove their lines and equipment from damaged poles in a timely manner in order to enhance public safety and the aesthetic appearance of roadways in Suffolk County.
[Added 9-13-2012 by L.L. No. 56-2012]
Any corporation, authority or other entity that provides electric, telephone, cable television or other telecommunications service to the residents of the County of Suffolk.
[Amended 9-13-2012 by L.L. No. 56-2012]
When the Department, or its duly authorized agent, determines that a utility pole in a County road right-of-way is damaged and poses a potential threat to public safety, the Department, or its duly authorized agent, shall notify any public utility with a plant on the damaged pole that it must remove its plant from the pole or be subject to a penalty. A public utility must remove its plant from the damaged pole within 15 days of receiving such notification from the Department or its duly authorized agent.
When the Department, or its duly authorized agent, determines that a double pole is in a County road right-of-way, the Department or its duly authorized agent will notify the public utility which has the top plant on the double pole that the plant must be removed within 60 days or be subject to penalty. Upon removal of the top plant, each subsequent public utility with plant on a double pole will have 60 days to remove such plant from the date it receives notification from the Department or its duly authorized agent.
The Suffolk County Department of Public Works shall include in all permits for the installation of utility poles on County roadways the following provision: "The permittee shall have 30 days to remove a double pole following removal of all plants from the pole. Failure to do so may result in penalties as provided by law."
Any public utility that fails to remove its plant from a damaged pole within 15 days of receiving notification from the Department pursuant to § 808-3A shall be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $250 for each such violation. Each day that the violation continues shall be deemed a separate violation.
Any public utility that fails to remove its plant from a double pole within 60 days of receiving notification from the Department or its duly authorized agent pursuant to § 808-3B shall be subject to a civil penalty of $1,000 per full calendar month that the violation continues.
Any public utility that fails to remove a double pole pursuant to the requirements of § 808-3C shall be subject to a civil penalty of $1,000 per month per full calendar month that the violation continues.
If a public utility violates the provisions of this article, the County Attorney, upon the request of the Department, may commence an action in the name of the County in a court of competent jurisdiction for necessary relief, which may include the imposition of civil penalties as authorized by this article, an order to remove the plant from a damaged utility pole and/or to remove damaged pole or double pole, the recovery of costs of the action and such other remedies as may be necessary to prevent or enjoin a dangerous condition from existing in a County road right-of-way.
The Commissioner may reduce or waive the penalties set forth in this section if a public utility demonstrates that its failure to comply with the provisions of this article is due to an Act of God or other circumstances beyond the control of the public utility.
The Department of Public Works or its duly authorized agent shall, for informational purposes, provide notice to the owner of a damaged or double pole when notification is given to a public utility that its plant must be removed from the pole.