Chapter 10. County Ferries of California Streets And Highways Code >> Division 2. >> Chapter 10.

The boards of supervisors in their respective counties may maintain, control, construct, repair or manage public ferries within the county.

The boards of supervisors, in their respective counties, may construct, operate, manage or maintain summer ferries under such rules and regulations and at such times and places as they consider necessary. The boards may cause the expense of such ferries to be paid out of the county general fund.

Whenever the board of supervisors of any county considers it advisable and for the best interests of the public that the county own and operate any ferry within such county, the board may purchase, establish or operate any ferry across any stream or river within the county.

Such board may acquire landing places for any such ferry and may pay the expenses of purchasing, establishing or operating such ferry out of the road fund of the county. A supervisor or his bondsmen shall not be responsible for the payment of damages incurred by any person while traveling on such ferry.

When a navigable river forms a boundary between two counties of this State, the board of supervisors of such counties may establish and operate any ferry across such river.

When a navigable bay forms a boundary between two counties, the boards of supervisors of the counties may establish and operate any ferry across the bay, subject to any restrictions in Article 7 (commencing with Section 30350) of Chapter 1 of Division 17 or in any bond resolution of the commission which may be applicable.

Each of the counties shall pay such proportion of the expenses of establishing and operating any such ferry as is agreed upon by the respective boards. Each board may pay its county's proportion of such expenses out of the county general fund or the road fund of the county.

If either of the counties refuses to enter into an agreement to establish and operate any such ferry, the other county may:
  (a) Establish and operate a ferry across the river.
  (b) Acquire landing places for such ferry on the opposite bank of such river.
  (c) Pay the expense of establishing and operating such ferry out of the road fund or the county general fund of such county.

Any ferry constructed or acquired under this chapter by a county or counties may be operated as either a free ferry or a toll ferry.