(a) Exclusive of city streets, state highways, or interstates, a county judge may post weight limits on public bridges in his or her jurisdiction in connection with federally mandated bridge inspections.
(b) Posted weight limit signs shall be in accordance with state and federal law.
(c)
(1) It is unlawful for a person to drive, operate, or move a motor vehicle, an object, or a contrivance or for an owner of a motor vehicle, object, or contrivance to cause or permit the motor vehicle, object, or contrivance of a size or weight exceeding the posted weight limit to be driven, operated, or moved.
(2) A person or an owner operating a motor vehicle, an object, or a contrivance under an overweight permit issued by the Arkansas Department of Transportation is exempt from penalty under subdivision (c)(1) of this section.
(d) A violation of this section is a Class C misdemeanor.
(e) Even if authorized by an overweight permit issued by the Arkansas Department of Transportation, a person or an owner operating, driving, or moving a vehicle, an object, or a contrivance upon a public bridge shall be liable for all damage that the public bridge may sustain as a result of:
(1) Careless, negligent, or illegal operation, driving, or moving of a vehicle, an object, or a contrivance; or
(2) Operation, driving, or moving of a vehicle, object, or contrivance of excessive width or weighing in excess of the maximum weight limits in this chapter.