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.

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.