1. Words used in the present tense include the future as well as the present. Words used in the masculine gender include the feminine and neuter. The singular number includes the plural and the plural the singular.

2. “County highway” includes all or any part of the entire width of right-of-way of any road, street, lane, alley, way or place, maintained by the county and open to the use of the public for purposes of travel, whether or not such entire width is actually used for highway purposes, and whether or not it has been accepted into the county road system by resolution of the county board of supervisors. It also includes bridges, culverts, curbs, drains, ditches, and all works incidental to county highway construction, improvement, and maintenance.

3. “Encroachment” includes any structure or object of any kind or character placed, without the authority of law.

4. “Person” means any individual, firm, partnership, association, corporation, organization, or business trust. It also includes any city, county, state, public corporation, public district, and the United States.

5. “Road commissioner” means the road commissioner of the county.

6. “Shall” is mandatory, and “may” is permissive.