Section 17300 Of Article 3. Liability For Damage To Highway From California Vehicle Code >> Division 9. >> Chapter 1. >> Article 3.
17300
. (a) A person who willfully or negligently damages a street
or highway, or its appurtenances, including, but not limited to,
guardrails, signs, traffic signals, snow poles, and similar
facilities, is liable for the reasonable cost of repair or
replacement thereof.
(b) A person who willfully damages or destroys a memorial sign
placed by the Department of Transportation, including, but not
limited to, a sign memorializing a victim under Section 101.10 of the
Streets and Highways Code, is liable for that damage or destruction
for the highest of the following amounts:
(1) One thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500).
(2) The actual repair cost or replacement cost, whichever is
applicable.
(c) A person who willfully or negligently causes or permits the
contents of a vehicle to be deposited upon a street or highway, or
its appurtenances, is liable for the reasonable costs of removing
those contents from the street or highway or its appurtenances.
(d) The liability stated in this section also applies to an owner
of a vehicle operated with the owner's permission, as provided in
Article 2 (commencing with Section 17150), and includes liability for
the reasonable cost of necessary safety precautions, including, but
not limited to, warning traffic, the removal of debris resulting from
accidents, the removal of any materials, or providing detours.
(e) The Department of Transportation and local authorities, with
respect to highways under their respective jurisdictions, may present
claims for liability under this section, bring actions for recovery
thereon, and settle and compromise, in their discretion, claims
arising under this section.
(f) If the Department of Transportation or a local authority
provides services on a highway outside its jurisdiction, at the
request of the department or the local authority that has
jurisdiction over that highway, the department or the local authority
may present a claim for liability for rendering this service under
this section, bring actions for recovery thereon, and, in its
discretion, settle and compromise the claim.