Chapter 6. Obstructions And Injuries To County Highways of California Streets And Highways Code >> Division 2. >> Chapter 6.

As used in this chapter:
  (a) The term "highway" includes all or any part of the entire width of right of way of a county highway, whether or not such entire area is actually used for highway purposes.
  (b) The term "encroachment" includes any structure or object of any kind or character placed, without the authority of law, either in, under or over any county highway.

The road commissioner may immediately remove, or by notice may require the removal of, any of the following encroachments:
  (a) An encroachment which obstructs or prevents the use of a county highway by the public.
  (b) An encroachment which consists of refuse.
  (c) An encroachment which is a traffic hazard.
  (d) An encroachment which is an advertising sign or device of any description, unless excepted by subdivision (c) of Section 1460. The road commissioner may return such sign or device to its owner, or otherwise dispose of it in his discretion, except that if the commissioner determines in good faith that the sign or other device is of more than nominal value he shall not effect such other disposition until he has made a reasonable attempt to identify and notify the owner of the sign or device and provided a reasonable time for the owner to retrieve it under provisions of this section. The return of such sign or device to its owner may be conditioned upon payment of an amount sufficient to reimburse the road commissioner for the expense of removal. The road commissioner may recover from the person causing any of the above encroachments, in an action brought in the name of the county for that purpose, the court costs of the road commissioner, the expense of such removal, and any other damages caused by the encroachment.

The road commissioner may, by notice, require the removal of any other encroachment not specified in Section 1480.5 from any county highway.

The notice referred to in Sections 1480.5 and 1481 shall be served upon the occupant or owner of the land, or the person causing, controlling or owning the encroachment, or shall be left at the place of residence of such occupant, owner or person if he resides in the county and is known to the person giving such notice. If the person upon whom notice is to be served does not reside in the county, the notice shall be posted on the encroachment. The notice shall specify the breadth of the highway, the place and extent of the encroachment, and shall require the removal of such encroachment within 10 days.

If the encroachment is not removed, or its removal not commenced and diligently prosecuted, prior to the expiration of 10 days from and after the service or posting of the notice, the person causing, owning, or controlling the encroachment forfeits three hundred fifty dollars ($350) for each day the encroachment continues unremoved. The road commissioner shall immediately remove an encroachment that effectually obstructs and prevents the use of the highway by vehicles.

If the encroachment is denied, and the owner or occupant of the land, or the person causing, owning or controlling the alleged encroachment refuses either to remove it or permit its removal, the road commissioner shall commence, in a court of competent jurisdiction, an action in the name of the county to abate the encroachment as a nuisance. If the commissioner recovers judgment he or she may, in addition to having the nuisance abated, recover a penalty of three hundred fifty dollars ($350) for each day the nuisance remains after service or posting of notice, and also the costs in the action, as provided in Section 1496.

If the encroachment is not denied, but is not removed within five days from and after service or posting of the notice, the road commissioner may remove the encroachment at the expense of the owner or occupant of the land, or the person causing, owning or controlling the encroachment. The commissioner may recover from the owner, occupant, or person, in an action brought in the name of the county for that purpose, the commissioner's court costs and the expense of removal and also a penalty of three hundred fifty dollars ($350) for each day the encroachment remained after service or posting of the notice, as provided in Section 1496.

Gates shall not be allowed on any county highway except gates allowed by the board of supervisors in accordance with the provisions of section 966. If the expense of the erection and maintenance of such allowed gates is not paid as required by section 966, such gates shall be removed as an obstruction. Any person who leaves any such gate open, or who wilfully and unnecessarily rides over ground adjoining the highway on which the gate is erected, shall be liable to the injured party for treble damages.

A person who, by means of ditches or dams, obstructs or injures any county highway, diverts any watercourse into any county highway, or drains water from his or her land upon any county highway, to the injury of the highway, shall, upon notice by the road commissioner, immediately cease and discontinue the obstruction and injury, and shall repair the highway at his or her own expense. He or she is liable to a penalty of three hundred fifty dollars ($350) for each day the obstruction or injury remains, recoverable as provided in Section 1496, and is also guilty of a misdemeanor.

(a) A person who, in storing or distributing water for any purpose, permits water to overflow or by seepage to saturate a county highway, to the injury of the highway, shall, upon notice by the road commissioner, immediately cease the overflow or seepage and repair the injury caused by the overflow or seepage.
  (b) The person permitting the overflow or seepage is liable to a penalty of three hundred fifty dollars ($350) for each day the overflow or seepage continues, recoverable as provided in Section 1496.
  (c) If the repair required by subdivision (a) is not made by the person within a reasonable time, as determined by the road commissioner, the road commissioner may make those repairs and recover the expense of the repairs from the person in an action at law brought in the name of the county.

The notice referred to in Sections 1487 and 1488 shall be given in the same manner as provided in Section 1482, except that the action it requires shall be taken immediately.

Unless a bridge is constructed in accordance with Section 1490, all persons excavating irrigation, mining or drainage ditches across county highways shall construct bridges across such ditches wherever such ditches cross such highways. If such persons fail to construct such bridges, the road commissioner shall construct them and shall recover from such persons, in an action at law brought in the name of the county, the expense of such construction.

The board of supervisors of any county may construct and maintain bridges over any ditches which are used exclusively for irrigation purposes and which cross county highways in the county. Such board may, with the consent of the owners of such ditches, declare any of such bridges to be public property, and may then maintain and repair such bridges at the expense of the county.

Any person who wilfully injures any county bridge is guilty of a misdemeanor, and is also liable for actual damages for such injury, to be recovered by the county in a civil action.

Any person who wilfully removes or injures any mile-board, milestone or guide-post, or any inscription thereon, erected on any county highway, is liable for a penalty of ten dollars, recoverable as provided in section 1496, for every such offense, and is also guilty of a misdemeanor.

Survey monuments shall be preserved, referenced, or replaced pursuant to Section 8771 of the Business and Professions Code.

Any person may notify the occupant or owner of any land, from which a tree or other obstruction has fallen upon any county highway, to remove such tree or obstruction forthwith. If it is not thus removed, the owner or occupant is liable for the expense of removal and for a penalty of one dollar for every day after such notification that such tree or obstruction is not removed. The penalty and the expense of removal are recoverable as provided in section 1496.

Any person who cuts down a tree which falls into any county highway shall immediately remove the tree, and is liable for a penalty of ten dollars, recoverable as provided in section 1496, for every day such tree remains in the highway.

Any person who maliciously digs up, cuts down, injures or destroys any shade or ornamental tree on any county highway, unless such tree is considered an obstruction by the road commissioner and is removed under his direction, is liable to a penalty of one hundred dollars, recoverable as provided in section 1496, for each such tree.

The road commissioner shall recover all penalties or forfeitures given in this chapter and the recovery of which is not otherwise provided for, by suit in the name of the county. He shall pay such recoveries into the road fund. The provisions of this section are applicable to Sections 1484, 1485, 1487, 1492, 1493, 1494, and 1495, and to any other provision in this chapter imposing penalties or forfeitures.