(a) It shall be the duty of the Public Service Commission to designate a standard sign or signs and to require the use of same by railroad companies to indicate crossings of public highways across railroads. It shall be unlawful for any person to use a sign similar thereto for advertising or for any other purpose; and it shall be unlawful to mutilate, destroy, or deface any crossing sign. The county authorities in charge of the roads of any county where a sign is erected contrary to this law shall have the duty of removing and destroying that sign.

(b) Any person who violates this Code section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding $50.00 or by imprisonment for a period not to exceed 12 months, or both.