CHAPTER 6. PASSENGER BOATS
IC 14-15-6
Chapter 6. Passenger Boats
IC 14-15-6-1
Certificate of inspection and registration; requirement
Sec. 1. (a) A person may not operate a boat upon public water tocarry passengers for hire unless the following conditions are met:
(1) The department has inspected and registered the boat.
(2) A certificate of inspection and registration issued by thedepartment is affixed to the boat in a prominent place within theclear view of the passengers.
(b) A certificate of inspection and registration expires one (1)calendar year after the date on which the watercraft was inspected.However, the department may extend the expiration date for notmore than thirty (30) days if conditions exist that would prevent theinspection of the watercraft before the first anniversary of theprevious inspection.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8. Amended by P.L.136-1997, SEC.4.
IC 14-15-6-2
Certificate of inspection and registration; issuance
Sec. 2. (a) Before issuing a certificate of inspection andregistration for a passenger boat, the department shall have the boat,including all motors, machinery, and equipment, thoroughly andcarefully inspected by a competent person.
(b) If the department finds that:
(1) the boat, including motors, machinery, and equipment, is:
(A) of a suitable design and construction for the service inwhich the boat is or is to be employed; and
(B) in a good, safe, and sound operating condition and stateof repair that warrants the belief that the boat can beoperated with safety in the service;
(2) the boat, including motors, machinery, and equipment, is incompliance with this article and the rules adopted under thisarticle; and
(3) property tax under IC 6-1.1 is not owed on the boat, asevidenced by the tax receipt for payment from the appropriatecounty treasurer;
the department shall register the boat and issue a certificate.
(c) If the department does not find the conditions in subsection(b), the department shall immediately notify the owner of the boatwhy the boat fails to meet the requirements.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8.
IC 14-15-6-3
Fees
Sec. 3. (a) The department shall charge and collect a fee for thefollowing:
(1) Each annual dockside inspection.
(2) Each dry dock inspection, which shall be conducted at least
one (1) time every sixty (60) months.
(b) The following fees shall be charged:
(1) All watercraft, except sailboats, carrying not more than six(6) passengers for hire on navigable water of Indiana:
(A) Dockside inspection............. $ 50
(B) Dry dock inspection............. $ 75
(2) All watercraft, except sailboats, carrying not more than six(6) passengers for hire on inland water of Indiana:
(A) Dockside inspection............. $ 30
(B) Dry dock inspection............. $ 30
(3) All watercraft, except sailboats, carrying more than six (6)passengers for hire on inland water of Indiana:
(A) Dockside inspection............. $ 75
(B) Dry dock inspection............. $100
(4) All watercraft propelled primarily by sail that carrypassengers for hire on navigable or inland water of Indiana:
(A) Dockside inspection............. $ 50
(B) Dry dock inspection............. $ 75
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8.
IC 14-15-6-4
Inspections; taking or suspension of certificate
Sec. 4. (a) The department may:
(1) periodically; and
(2) with or without notice;
inspect a registered passenger boat.
(b) If the department finds from the inspection that the boat wouldnot be entitled to registration if registration were sought at that time,the department shall immediately notify the owner of the boat thereason the boat fails to meet the requirements. The department may:
(1) take possession of a certificate of inspection and registrationissued for the boat; and
(2) suspend the operation of the certificate of inspection andregistration;
pending the correction of the deficiencies.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8.
IC 14-15-6-5
Operation during suspension of certificate prohibited
Sec. 5. The owner of a passenger boat whose registration has beensuspended under section 4 of this chapter may not use the boat orpermit the boat to be used to carry passengers for hire until:
(1) the deficiencies have been corrected; and
(2) the certificate of inspection and registration has been issuedor restored.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8.
IC 14-15-6-6
Contents of certificate
Sec. 6. Each certificate of inspection and registration must certify
that the inspection has been made and must set forth, among otherthings, the following:
(1) The date of inspection.
(2) A description of the boat, including motors, machinery andequipment.
(3) The age of the boat.
(4) The maximum weight, including both passengers andproperty, that may safely be carried on the boat.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8.
IC 14-15-6-7
Display of maximum weight
Sec. 7. A person may not operate a passenger boat unless there ispainted on the outside of the boat, both to starboard and to port andin a conspicuous place, the maximum weight, including passengersand property, that may safely be carried on the boat, as set forth inthe certificate.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8.
IC 14-15-6-8
Operation in excess of maximum weight prohibited
Sec. 8. A person may not operate a passenger boat with personsor property on board in excess of the maximum weight, includingpassengers and property, that may safely be carried on the boat, asset forth in the certificate.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8.
IC 14-15-6-9
Procedure upon sale of boat
Sec. 9. (a) Upon the sale of a passenger boat, the purchaser shallwithin ten (10) days do the following at the same time:
(1) Give notice in writing to the department of the sale and thedate of the sale.
(2) Surrender the certificate to the department for cancellation.
(b) The department shall, upon receipt, issue a new certificate ofinspection and registration to the purchaser. The department shallcharge and collect a fee of five dollars ($5) for issuing the certificate.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8.
IC 14-15-6-10
Violations
Sec. 10. A person who violates this chapter commits a Class Cinfraction.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8.