The bill establishes penalties for vehicular damage to covered wooden bridges and for driving over such bridges with vehicles that exceed the posted weight, height, or other dimensional limits. Under the new law, a motor vehicle operator who damages a covered wooden bridge will be fined $1,000 for a first violation, with the fine increasing to up to $2,000 if the offense substantially impedes traffic flow. If no damage occurs but the vehicle exceeds the posted limits, the fine is set at $500 for a first violation, again increasing to up to $2,000 if traffic flow is substantially impeded. Additionally, the bill specifies that "any part" of a bridge includes roofs, portals, siding, bracings, railings, and signs, and towing a trailer or other vehicle is considered a violation when a bridge has a "nothing in tow" sign or similar restriction.

The bill also mandates that the owner of a vehicle causing damage to a covered wooden bridge is responsible for the full cost of repairs, assessed by the responsible community or agency. If the cost is not paid within 30 days after a demand for payment, a civil penalty equal to the repair cost plus $100 is imposed. In the case of a rental vehicle, the renter is responsible for the civil penalty. The bill amends RSA 234:41 to specify that the fine and civil penalty for covered wooden bridges are determined under the new RSA 234:39-a. Furthermore, it amends RSA 266:16 and RSA 266:25 to align penalties for exceeding permitted vehicle size and weight on bridges with the new provisions, notwithstanding RSA 234:39-a. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 234:41, 266:16, 266:25
Version adopted by both bodies: 234:41, 266:16, 266:25
CHAPTERED FINAL VERSION: 234:41, 266:16, 266:25