Section 69. Damages caused by excessive loads

The  commissioner  of
  transportation shall cause, where required, the posting of  all  bridges
  under  his  jurisdiction  located on the canal system in conformity with
  the provisions of the vehicle and traffic law.  Upon  all  such  bridges
  incapable  of  safely  carrying legal loads as prescribed in such law or
  where the overhead clearance is less than the legal height  of  fourteen
  feet,  the  commissioner  of transportation shall have displayed on both
  ends of such bridge signs stating the safe carrying capacity  and  legal
  clearance  of  such  structure, all in accordance with the provisions of
  section three hundred eighty-five of the vehicle  and  traffic  law.  No
  person  shall cause to be transported over such a bridge a vehicle whose
  load is in excess of that shown upon the posted sign or whose height  is
  in  excess  of  the  legal  clearance  as shown on such posted sign. Any
  person violating the above provisions shall be subject to the  penalties
  imposed  under  section  three  hundred  eighty-five  of the vehicle and
  traffic law and in addition thereto shall be liable for all  damages  to
  such structure resulting from violation of such law. The commissioner of
  transportation  is  hereby authorized and directed to proceed, on behalf
  of  the  people  of  the  state,  to  cause  to  be  recovered,  by  the
  attorney-general  in  an  appropriate  action  in any court of competent
  jurisdiction, the amount of damages sustained and expenses  incurred  by
  the state in consequence of such violation.