23-2-312. Access to surface waters by public bridge or county road right-of-way. (1) A person may gain access to surface waters for recreational use by using:
(a) a public bridge, its right-of-way, and its abutments; and
(b) a county road right-of-way.
(2) When accessing surface waters pursuant to subsection (1), a person shall stay within the road or bridge right-of-way. Absent definition in an easement or deed to the contrary, the width of a bridge right-of-way is the same width as the right-of-way of the road to which the bridge is attached.
(3) The provisions in 7-14-2134, 23-2-313, and this section related to public access to surface waters for recreational use neither create nor extinguish any right related to county roads established by prescriptive use that exist on April 13, 2009.
(4) For purposes of determining liability, a person accessing surface waters for recreational use pursuant to this section is owed no duty by a landowner or an agent or tenant of that landowner other than for an act or omission that constitutes willful or wanton misconduct.
History: En. Sec. 2, Ch. 201, L. 2009.
Structure Montana Code Annotated
Title 23. Parks, Recreation, Sports, and Gambling
Part 3. Recreational Use of Streams
23-2-302. Recreational use permitted -- limitations -- exceptions
23-2-303. through 23-2-308 reserved
23-2-309. Land title unaffected
23-2-311. Right to portage -- establishment of portage route
23-2-312. Access to surface waters by public bridge or county road right-of-way
23-2-313. Fencing for livestock control and public passage -- negotiation -- costs
23-2-314. through 23-2-320 reserved
23-2-321. Restriction on liability of landowner and supervisor
23-2-322. Prescriptive easement not acquired by recreational use of surface waters