[§200-48]  Derelict vessel.  A vesselwhich has been left unattended for a continuous period of more than twenty-fourhours is a derelict if:

(1)  The vessel is sunk or in immediate danger ofsinking, is obstructing a waterway, or is endangering life or property; or

(2)  The vessel has been moored or otherwise left inthe waters of the State or on public property contrary to law, or rules havingthe force and effect of law, or the vessel has been left on private propertywithout authorization of the owner or occupant of the property and if:

(A)  The vessel's registration certificate ormarine document has expired and the registered owner no longer resided at theaddress listed in the vessel registration or marine document records of thedepartment or the United States Coast Guard;

(B)  The last registered owner of recorddisclaims ownership and the current owner's name or address cannot bedetermined;

(C)  The vessel identification numbers andother means of identification have been removed so as to hinder or nullifyefforts to locate or identify the owner; or

(D)  The vessel registration records of thedepartment and the marine document records of the United States Coast Guardcontain no record that the vessel has ever been registered or documented and theowner's name or address cannot be determined. [L 1991, c 272, pt of §2]