5-322

5-322. Motorized watercraft to be numbered;
exceptions

A. All undocumented motorized watercraft whether underway, moored or anchored on
the waters within the boundaries of the state shall be numbered in accordance with this
chapter or rules of the commission in accordance with the federally approved numbering
system except:

1. Foreign watercraft temporarily using the waters of the state.

2. Military or public vessels of the United States, except recreational type public
vessels.

3. Watercraft used solely as lifeboats.

4. Undocumented watercraft operating under a valid temporary certificate issued
pursuant to rules adopted by the commission.

B. Motorized watercraft owned and operated exclusively by the state or by any
political subdivision of the state shall be numbered, but no registration fee shall be
paid on the watercraft.

C. All nonresident owners of motorized watercraft when in the course of interstate
operation displaying a current and valid number issued under an approved federal
numbering system of the United States coast guard, a state, the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam or the District of Columbia shall register such watercraft
with the department prior to the expiration of the reciprocity period prescribed by rules
of the commission.

D. All nonresident-owned motorized watercraft, when in the course of interstate
operation and not required to be numbered in their state of principal use, shall comply
with the requirements of subsection C of this section.

E. Except as provided in subsection F of this section, any person who is a resident
of this state and who is the owner of a motorized watercraft shall number the watercraft
pursuant to section 5-321 prior to operating such watercraft on the waterways of the
state.

F. When this state becomes the new state of principal use of a motorized watercraft
displaying a current number issued under a federally approved numbering system, the
validity of such number shall be recognized for a period of ninety days. Upon expiration
of the ninety-day period and prior to any subsequent use, the owner shall number any
motorized watercraft pursuant to section 5-321.

G. Each dealer or manufacturer in this state engaged in the sale of motorized
watercraft using the watercraft for demonstration shall obtain one or more dealer
watercraft certificates of number with the current validating decals. Applications,
renewal and display of certificates of number shall be as prescribed in this chapter or
by rules of the commission, except that the annual fee will be two dollars fifty cents
for each certificate of number and accompanying current decals.