§ 26-158. Use of bridges restricted; regulations.

(a)

The Director shall designate the weights of wagons, trucks, road engines, road rollers, traction engines, threshing machines, or other vehicles of any kind passing over any bridges or culverts included in the County road system and the rate of speed of such vehicles while passing over the bridges or culverts.

(b)

Such regulations shall be indicated by the conspicuous posting and maintenance of signs at both ends of or the entrance to such bridges or culverts. Such signs shall be those set forth as standard applications for vehicle weight and speed restriction in the most recent edition of the State of Maryland Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways, adopted by the Maryland State Highway Administration pursuant to the Annotated Code of Maryland, Transportation Article, Section 25-104.

(c)

Such signs shall be taken to mean that no vehicle of any kind, weighing, with or without any load which may be in or upon the vehicle, more than the number of pounds specified on such signboard shall pass or be drawn, driven, propelled, or in any other manner taken over such bridge or culvert, and that no such vehicle of any kind, shall pass or be drawn, driven, propelled, or in any other manner taken over such bridge or culvert at a greater rate of speed than that specified on such signboard.

(d)

Any person, whether the owner of such vehicle, the person in charge and control over the vehicle, or an employee or agent of any such person, who draws, drives, propels, or in any other manner takes or causes to be taken, drawn, driven, or propelled over any such bridge or culvert so posted, any wagon, truck, road engine, road roller, traction engine, threshing machine, or other vehicle of any kind, weighing, with or without any load which may be in or upon the vehicle, more than the number of pounds specified on the signboard so erected at the entrances or approaches of such bridge or culvert, or at a greater rate of speed than that specified on such signboard, without a permit, in writing, from the Director, shall be deemed guilty of a violation of this Code. In addition to any penalty provided therefor, the owner or person in control of such vehicle shall be liable to the County for all damages which may be done to the bridge or culvert by the violation of the regulation.

(e)

In any trial of any person charged with a violation of any of the provisions of this Section, oral proof of the existence of such signboard posted as provided in this Division and its contents shall be accepted as prima facie evidence of the validity of the regulations prescribed on such sign.

(CB-51-1978; CB-120-1982)