Vermont H 810: An act relating to protections for covered bridges

Bill Text

BILL AS INTRODUCED H.810
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VT LEG #386367 v.2
H.810 1
Introduced by Representatives Malay of Pittsford, Bailey of Hyde Park, 2
Bartholomew of Hartland, Bosch of Clarendon, Boyden of 3
Cambridge, Burditt of West Rutland, Charlton of Chester, 4
Coffin of Cavendish, Demar of Enosburgh, Feltus of Lyndon, 5
Goslant of Northfield, Greer of Bennington, Higley of Lowell, 6
Hooper of Randolph, Keyser of Rutland City, Kimbell of 7
Woodstock, Labor of Morgan, Masland of Thetford, Morgan, L. 8
of Milton, Morgan, M. of Milton, Nielsen of Brandon, O’Brien 9
of Tunbridge, Pinsonault of Dorset, and Walker of Swanton 10
Referred to Committee on 11
Date: 12
Subject: Motor vehicles; operation of vehicles; covered bridges; limits; 13
penalties; technical assistance 14
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to require the 15
Agency of Transportation to provide assistance to municipalities in relation to 16
establishing weight, height, and width limits for covered bridges; penalties for 17
violating those limits; and potential opportunities to obtain grant funding and 18
assistance to construct barriers or take other measures to prevent vehicles that 19
exceed those limits from using covered bridges. This bill also proposes to 20

BILL AS INTRODUCED H.810
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VT LEG #386367 v.2
increase criminal penalties for arson of a covered bridge or intentionally 1
injuring a covered bridge. 2
An act relating to protections for covered bridges 3
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 4
Sec. 1. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE; INFORMATIONAL MATERIALS; 5
COVERED BRIDGES 6
The Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with the Secretary of 7
Commerce and Community Development, the Vermont League of Cities and 8
Towns, and, in the discretion of the Secretary of Transportation, other 9
stakeholders, shall: 10
(1) on or before November 15, 2026, develop and make available to 11
municipalities informational materials regarding establishing weight, height, 12
and width limits for covered bridges and the enhanced penalties pursuant to 13
23 V.S.A. § 1434(c) for persons who operate a vehicle on a covered bridge, 14
which exceeds the limits established for that bridge; 15
(2) provide technical assistance to municipalities in relation to 16
establishing weight, height, and width limits for covered bridges; 17
(3) provide information and technical assistance to municipalities 18
regarding the construction of barriers, warning devices, and other measures 19

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VT LEG #386367 v.2
designed to prevent vehicles that exceed the weight, height, and width limits 1
for a covered bridge from being operated on the bridge; and 2
(4) provide information and technical assistance to municipalities in 3
relation to potential opportunities to obtain funding or in-kind assistance 4
related to the construction of barriers, warning devices, and other measures 5
designed to prevent vehicles that exceed the weight, height, and width limits 6
for a covered bridge from being operated on the bridge. 7
Sec. 2. 13 V.S.A. § 503 is amended to read: 8
§ 503. SECOND DEGREE ARSON; ARSON OF A COVERED BRIDGE 9
(a) A person who willfully and maliciously sets fire to or burns or causes to 10
be burned, or who willfully and maliciously aids, counsels, or procures the 11
burning of any building or structure of whatsoever class or character, whether 12
the property of himself or herself themselves or of another, not included or 13
described in section 502 of this title, shall be guilty of arson in the second 14
degree, and shall be imprisoned not more than five years nor less than one year 15
or fined not more than $1,000.00, or both. 16
(b) A person who violates subsection (a) of this section by committing 17
arson of a covered bridge shall be imprisoned not more than 10 years nor less 18
than two years or fined not more than $2,000.00, or both. 19

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VT LEG #386367 v.2
Sec. 3. 13 V.S.A. § 3733 is amended to read: 1
§ 3733. MILLS, DAMS OR BRIDGES 2
(a) A person who willfully and maliciously injures, removes, or opens a 3
dam, reservoir, gate, or flume or injures or removes the wheels, mill gear, or 4
machinery of a water mill, or injures, removes, or destroys a public or toll 5
bridge, shall be imprisoned not more than five years or fined not more than 6
$500.00, or both. 7
(b) A person who willfully and maliciously injures, removes, or destroys a 8
covered bridge shall be imprisoned not more than 10 years or fined not more 9
than $1,000.00, or both. 10
Sec. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE 11
This act shall take effect on July 1, 2026. 12