An ordinance to increase the penalty for those who damage Washington County roads had its second reading. At Tuesday’s Washington County Board of Supervisors meeting, the second reading of the ordinance was approved unanimously. The ordinance states, “Any person who injures, mars, or damages any County road that requires repairs in excess of $250 by the Washington County Secondary Roads Department shall, for every offense, be guilty of a simple misdemeanor.” The offense is punishable by a maximum 30-day jail stint or a fine up to $625, and the offender shall be liable for restitution for repair of the road.

At the meeting, Washington County Engineer Jacob Thorius said there’s understanding for the agriculture sector, “We understand we’re in an agricultural community and there’s going to be some mud tracked on the road, but at the same time there are steps that everybody can take to try to minimize that.” At a previous meeting Thorius explained there have been people who go out on dirt roads after it rains to see how far they can get in their vehicles, and often it is kids trying to have fun but it results in damaged roads that can make it tough for others to go down. This ordinance makes the infraction a criminal issue, not a civil issue. A third reading will be required before it is published and officially put in place.