[§200-16.5]  Responsibility of vessel owner;evidence of unauthorized mooring.  (a)  In any proceeding for violation ofany statute or rule relating to the mooring of vessels, evidence of ownershipincluding:

(1)  The state registration number;

(2)  The documented name or number of a vessel; or

(3)  Any other identifying name or number;

affixed to a vessel involved in the violation shallcreate a presumption that the owner of the vessel was the person who unlawfullymoored or placed the vessel at the point where, and during the time when, theviolation occurred.

(b)  A vessel owner may present competentevidence that the vessel was sold, transferred, or stolen, or was moored orplaced in accordance with prior written permission of the State or due to an emergencyberthing condition to rebut the presumption established in subsection (a). [L1996, c 188, §1]