No person shall break, tear, paint, deface or damage any public tree or shrub; nor shall any person cause or allow any toxic chemical, gas, salt, oil, or other injurious substance to be dumped, drained or applied to or to seep or drain upon or about any public tree, shrub or other plant materials; provided, however, that this section shall not apply to the salting of streets by the commissioner for the purpose of melting ice and snow.
(Prior code § 32-17)