Any person may notify the occupant or owner of any land, from which a tree or other obstruction has fallen upon any county highway, to remove such tree or obstruction forthwith. If it is not thus removed, the owner or occupant is liable for the expense of removal and for a penalty of one dollar for every day after such notification that such tree or obstruction is not removed. The penalty and the expense of removal are recoverable as provided in section 1496.