The National Electric Code of rules and regulations of the National Board of Fire Underwriters for electrical wiring and apparatus as recommended by the National Fire Protection Association is hereby adopted, and it shall be the duty of the Inspector of Wires and of his lawfully authorized deputies to enforce the rules and regulations therein set forth, as well as all laws and ordinances now in force or which may hereafter be enacted or adopted relating to electric wiring or apparatus and the rules and regulations of any local light and power company which may be approved in writing by the City Council. None of the provisions of this section shall be construed to prevent the Inspector of Wires from making such further reasonable requirements in the interest of public safety in any particular case as he may deem necessary, according to the provisions of § 141-20.
[Amended 12-9-1980 by Doc. 196-B]
Where any poles, wires, fixtures or other apparatus are found by the
Inspector to be in an unsafe or dangerous condition or apt to obstruct or
interfere with the apparatus or work of the Fire Department or with the use
of fire escapes he shall notify the person owning, leasing or operating such
poles, wires, fixtures or other apparatus to put the same in a safe, secure,
noninterfering and nonobstructing condition.
Every person owning, leasing or operating wires carrying an electric
current over, under or along any street or way in the City, shall, within
24 hours after receiving written notice served by the Inspector of Wires,
or within such other time as he may designate, make such additions, substitutions,
repairs, improvements or changes in the wires, their supports, appliances
and fixtures, or the apparatus or conduits connected therewith, as he may
require for the purpose of rendering them safe and secure or noninterfering
and nonobstructing. The Inspector may remove or cause to be removed any wires
which have not been changed or repaired in accordance with the provisions
of this section.
No person shall, for any purpose connected with the erection, construction,
maintenance or removal of any electric wires or systems of wiring, or of posts,
poles or other supports thereof, climb any public shade tree by the use of
spurs or any other instrument which may cut, injure or deface such tree, or
shall in any way injure, tear, pierce, cut, break, deface, mutilate or destroy
any tree or branch of a tree, or any shrub or other plant, or any fixture
of ornament or utility in any public street, way or place in the City, and
no person shall attach any wire, crossarm or other fixture to any tree without
first obtaining the written permission of the Mayor thereto.
No person shall interfere with, hinder or obstruct the Inspector of
Wires or any person lawfully deputized by him while in the performance of
his duty, and every such act of interference, hindrance or obstruction shall
be deemed to constitute a separate offense within the meaning and intent of
this chapter.
The Chief of the Fire Department or the Inspector of Wires, or any person
duly authorized or delegated by either of them, shall have power and authority
to cause the cutting, disconnection or removal of all wires or the turning
off of all electric current where the wires or circuits interfere with, endanger,
obstruct or hinder the operations of the Fire Department during a fire in
the City.
The Inspector of Wires shall have and exercise all lawful authority
not otherwise provided for in this Code and not reserved by law or ordinance
to the City Council or to any other board or officer pertaining to the installation,
operation, alteration, maintenance or removal of electric wiring apparatus
or pertaining to the distribution of electricity.
The Inspector of Wires or one of his authorized assistants shall attend
all fires in the business section of the City and, when summoned by the officer
in charge of the Fire Department at any such fire, shall attend any fire in
any other part of the City, in order to render such services as may be required
by the Fire Chief or officer in charge in relation to the cutting or removal
of wires or electrical apparatus or the turning off of electric current. For
this purpose, the City Electrician shall be considered an authorized assistant
of the Inspector of Wires.[1]
