A person who, without the personal direction or written consent of the owner of the property, shall:
Shall be punishable by a fine of not less than ten nor more than one hundred dollars in an action at law to be commenced within three months from the time of the commission of the offense. Nothing in this section shall apply to public utility companies or their agents engaged in the performance of public utility company duties.
N.J.S. § 4:17-9