Any person violating any law relating to or regulating the use of the improved public roads shall be liable for all damage resulting to any such street, highway, bridge, or culvert by reason of such violation. In case of any injury to such a street, highway, bridge, or culvert, such damages shall be collected by civil action, brought in the name of the state, on the relation of the director of transportation with respect to highways under his jurisdiction, and the attorney general or prosecuting attorney of any county shall institute such action, when requested by the director and prosecute it to final judgment. In case of any injury to an improved public road, bridge, or culvert of a county, by reason of the violations of any of the rules or regulations made by the board of county commissioners, the damages shall be recovered by a civil action prosecuted by the board; in case of an injury to an improved public street, highway, bridge, or culvert of a municipal corporation, it shall be the duty of the proper authorities of such municipal corporation to institute an action for the recovery of such damages; and in the case of an injury to an improved public street, road, bridge, or culvert of a township, the damages shall be recovered by a civil action prosecuted by the board of township trustees. All damages collected under this section shall be paid into the treasury of the state or proper political subdivision, and credited to any fund for the repair of streets, highways, roads, bridges, or culverts.

Effective Date: 09-28-1973 .