Every owner or occupier of a dam over which a state highway passes shall keep such dam in good order, at least 12 feet wide at the top, and also keep in good order the substructure of a bridge of like width over the pier heads, floodgates, or any wastecut through or around the dam, provided that when these requirements have been met, the superstructure of any such bridge shall be maintained by the Commissioner of Highways. The Commissioner of Highways shall inspect all such bridges and report any needed repairs to the owner in writing. If such owner fails to comply with the provisions of this chapter, he is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $2 for every such failure of 24 hours. However, if a milldam is carried away or destroyed by flood or any other extraordinary natural cause, the owner or occupier thereof shall not be subject to such fine until one month after any mill operated in whole or in part by water impounded by such dam has been put into operation by such waterpower.
Code 1950, § 33-90; 1970, c. 322, § 33.1-176; 2014, c. 805.
Structure Code of Virginia
Title 33.2 - Highways and Other Surface Transportation Systems
Chapter 4 - Limited Access Highways, Scenic Highways and Virginia Byways, and Highways over Dams
§ 33.2-403. Business enterprises restricted on limited access highway right-of-way
§ 33.2-404. Service roads parallel to limited access highways; standards for access, service, etc.
§ 33.2-405. Designation of scenic highways and Virginia byways
§ 33.2-406. Selecting Virginia byways
§ 33.2-407. Signage of scenic highways and Virginia byways
§ 33.2-408. Acquisition of adjacent land
§ 33.2-409. Duty of owner or occupier of dam over which state highway passes; penalty
§ 33.2-410. Duties of Commissioner of Highways related to dams over which a state highway passes
§ 33.2-411. Raising or lowering floodgates
§ 33.2-412. Reconstruction if dam is washed out