[§200-73]  Unlawful to possess certainvessels or hulls.  No person shall possess a vessel or hull, knowing thatthe vessel hull identification number, placed on the same by the manufactureror the owner for the purpose of identification, has been changed, altered,erased, or mutilated for the purpose of changing the identity of the vessel orhull thereof.  Any vessel or hull from which the vessel hull identificationnumber carved, burned, stamped, embossed, or otherwise permanently affixed tothe hull by the manufacturer or by the owner, has been removed, defaced, oraltered shall be caused by the chairperson to be taken into custody and, if notidentified, disposed of pursuant to part III.  If identified, the chairpersonshall:

(1)  Notify the owner at the owner's last knownaddress or the address shown on the records of the department or United StatesCoast Guard, and all lien holders who have properly filed a financingstatement, referencing the name of the registered owner, in the bureau ofconveyances or who are shown on the records of the department or United StatesCoast Guard;

(2)  Authorize restoration of the original vessel hullidentification number or if unknown, assign a new number; and

(3)  Restore the vessel or hull to the owner uponpayment to the State of all costs and expenses incurred by the State causingthe vessel to be taken into custody. [L 1991, c 272, pt of §2]