Removal of nuisances
59.—(1) Where any thing is placed on a road so as to constitute a nuisance, the Department may by notice require the person who placed it there to remove it immediately and if he fails to comply with the notice the Department may make a complaint to a court of summary jurisdiction for a removal and disposal order under this Article.
(2) Where the Department considers that any thing placed on a road without lawful authority constitutes a danger to persons using the road the Department may remove the thing and may make a complaint to a court of summary jurisdiction for a disposal order under this Article.
(3) A court of summary jurisdiction may, on a complaint made under this Article, make an order authorising the Department either to remove the thing in question and dispose of it or, as the case may be, to dispose of the thing in question.
(4) Where in accordance with an order under paragraph (3) any thing is disposed of by sale, the expenses of removal and sale shall be defrayed out of the proceeds thereof and the balance of the proceeds (if any) shall be given to the owner if known and if not shall be applied in the same manner as is provided for with respect to fines by section 20 of the Administration of Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 1954(1).
(5) Where in accordance with an order under paragraph (3) the Department disposes of any thing—
(a)by sale and the proceeds are not sufficient to defray the Department’s expenses; or
(b)in some manner other than by sale,
the Department may recover from the person who placed that thing on the road any expenses reasonably incurred by it in removing and disposing of the thing.
(6) For the purposes of this Article a thing may be treated as having been placed on a road notwithstanding that it is on wheels.