(a) No owner of a traction engine shall use or operate such engine or suffer or permit the same to be used or operated unless there has been securely attached to the smokestack thereof a suitable and sufficient spark catcher or spark protector, which spark catcher or spark protector shall be of a conical or funnel shape and of a heavy wire material and of a mesh not larger than one eighth of an inch. No owner of a traction engine shall suffer or permit the engine to be operated without having the smokestack thereof securely protected by such spark protector.
(b) Any owner or operator of a traction engine failing or neglecting to provide the owner’s or operator’s engine with a spark protector shall be fined not more than $50.