Maine Revised Statutes Title 35-A. Public Utilities § 2516. Permits for moving buildings, cutting wires, removing poles; expenses; damages

1. Permit required to cut wires and remove poles. A person may not cut, disconnect or remove the wires or poles of a telephone or transmission and distribution utility in order to move a building, alter, repair or improve a street, bridge or way, or for any other purpose unless that person:

2. Hearings and notice. Upon receipt of the application, the municipal officers shall:

3. Granting of permit and apportionment of expenses. Upon hearing, the municipal officers may grant a permit on such terms and conditions and make such apportionment of expenses as they determine best.

4. Permit for removal of wires or poles used by a utility for transmitting train orders or operating block signals. No wires or poles owned or used under contract by a utility for transmitting train orders or operating block signals may be cut, disconnected or removed unless:

5. Offense. Whoever disconnects or removes wires or poles or moves any building on or over a public way without first obtaining the permit or violates any of the conditions of the permit is guilty of unauthorized removal of poles.

6. Penalty. Unauthorized removal of poles is a Class D crime.

7. Damages. If a way or bridge is damaged by the moving of a building, the municipal officers shall determine what proportion of the damage the owner of the building shall pay, and this amount may be recovered by the municipality in a civil action against the owner of the building.