Whenever the location of a State highway is such that a ferry must be used to completely traverse said highway, and there is no existing ferry furnishing service to traffic on said highway, the department may construct, maintain and operate such a ferry, or may, by cooperative agreement, delegate the construction, maintenance or operation thereof to a county, or if the termini of a ferry are within one or more cities, to the cities concerned. Whenever a highway between the termini of which a publicly owned ferry is used, is declared to be a State highway, the title to the ferry and all appurtenances thereto vests in the State. The department is authorized to promulgate reasonable rules and regulations governing the hours of operation of such ferries. The department may impose a charge of not to exceed one dollar per vehicle for the use of such ferries between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.; provided, that in no event shall any charge be imposed on any ferry formerly operated by a county where the county maintained free ferry service for twenty-four hours per day at the time the ferry is or was taken over by the department. It is unlawful to operate on any such ferries or the approaches thereto, a vehicle of a size or weight or at a speed, greater than that which any such ferry or its approaches, with safety to itself and to the traveling public, will permit. The department shall determine the maximum size, weight and speed of vehicles which with safety can be permitted on such ferries and shall by appropriate signs notify the public of its determination. It is prima facie evidence of violation of this section to exceed the limit specified by the department upon such signs. The department is authorized to recover by civil action any damages done to such ferries or the approaches thereof by reason of a failure to comply with the provisions of this section and a violation of the limits specified on the signs erected by the department is prima facie evidence of such violation.

(Amended by Stats. 1937, Ch. 931.)