§ 26-156. Authority to restrict right to use highways.

(a)

The Director may prohibit the operation of vehicles upon the road or highway or impose restrictions as to the weight of vehicles to be operated upon the highway, or reduce the maximum speed limits of vehicles operating upon the highway for any one period not to exceed 60 days, and for a total period of not to exceed 90 days in any one calendar year, whenever the road or highway by reason of deterioration, rain, snow, or other condition will be seriously damaged or destroyed unless the use of vehicles thereon is prohibited or the permissible weights thereof reduced or the maximum speed limits be reduced; provided, however, vehicles supplying emergency service such as supplying fuel and fuel oil and hauling milk may use the roads and highways upon written permission of the Director or his duly authorized representative. The Director may designate and define the term "vehicle supplying emergency service" as hereinabove used.

(b)

The Director shall erect or cause to be erected, posted, and maintained signs designating the provisions of the ordinance or resolution at each end of that portion of any road or highway affected thereby, and the resolution shall not be effective unless and until the signs are erected and posted.

(c)

Any person, whether the owner of such vehicle, the person in charge and control over the same, or employee or agent, who draws, drives, propels, or in any other manner takes or causes to be taken, drawn, driven, or propelled over the road or highway posted as aforesaid any vehicles of any kind, weighing, with or without any load which may be in or upon the same, more than the number of pounds specified on the signboard so erected, at the entrance to the road or highway, or at a greater rate of speed than that specified on the signboard, without a permit in writing from the Director shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor. In addition, the owner or person in control of the vehicle shall be liable to the County for all damages which may be done to the road or highway by the violation of the regulation so prescribed. In any trial of any person charged with a violation of any of the provisions of this Section, oral proof of the existence of the signboard posted as herein provided and its contents shall be accepted as prima facie evidence of the validity of the regulation thereon prescribed.

(CB-51-1978)