It shall be unlawful to cut, destroy or otherwise injure any shade or ornamental tree or shrub growing within the limits of any public highway within the state of Michigan without the consent of the authorities having jurisdiction over such road. In the case of a trunk line or federal aided road the state highway commissioner shall be deemed to have such jurisdiction in all cases. It shall also be unlawful to affix to any such tree or shrub any picture, announcement, notice or advertisement or to negligently permit any animal to break down or injure the same. Any person violating any of the provisions of this act shall be deemed to be guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine of not more than 100 dollars or by imprisonment in the county jail for a period not exceeding 30 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment within the discretion of the court.

     The state highway commissioner is hereby authorized and empowered as a part of the maintenance of trunk line and federal aided roads to protect trees and shrubs set out along and within the limits of such roads and to set out such trees and shrubs as may be furnished to him by the Michigan agricultural college, the department of conservation, or by any other state department or institution, or obtained from neighboring lands without cost, for the use and benefit of the public. The care of such trees shall be deemed to be a part of the road maintenance work. Boards of county road commissioners and township highway authorities shall likewise have power to set out and maintain such trees along, and within the limits of, roads under their respective jurisdictions.