Proposed legislation would increase protections for the states historic covered bridges

CONCORD — Proposed legislation would increase protections for the state’s historic covered bridges. Two companion bills — House Bill 1217 and House Bill 1457 — would target irresponsible drivers that strike and damage the state’s 58 covered bridges, including the Mt. Orne Covered Bridge in Lancaster, which remains closed after a Nov. 10 accident. House Bill 1217 would permit municipalities to use video surveillance to identify hit-and-run drivers.  House Bill 1457, which would increase fines for height and weight limit violations to $500 if the bridge is not damaged, $1,000 if the bridge is damaged, and $2,000 if the incident “substantially impedes the flow of traffic.”