CHAPTER 3. MOTORBOAT REGISTRATION
IC 9-31-3
Chapter 3. Motorboat Registration
IC 9-31-3-1
Boats requiring registration and numbering
Sec. 1. Except as provided in section 2 of this chapter, everymotorboat principally used on the waters of Indiana must beregistered and numbered.
As added by P.L.71-1991, SEC.11.
IC 9-31-3-2
Motorboats not requiring registration and numbering; prima facieevidence negating registration exception
Sec. 2. (a) A motorboat does not have to be registered andnumbered under this chapter if any of the following conditions aremet:
(1) The motorboat is legally registered in another state and:
(A) the motorboat has not been within Indiana for more thansixty (60) consecutive days; or
(B) the owner of the motorboat has paid the excise taxrequired under IC 6-6-11 and fees required underIC 6-6-11-13 and IC 9-29-15-9.
(2) The motorboat is from a country other than the UnitedStates temporarily using the waters of Indiana.
(3) The motorboat is a ship's lifeboat.
(4) The motorboat belongs to a class of boats that has beenexempted from registration and numbering by the bureau afterthe bureau has found the following:
(A) That the registration and numbering of motorboats ofthat class will not materially aid in their identification.
(B) That an agency of the federal government has anumbering system applicable to the class of motorboats towhich the motorboat in question belongs.
(C) That the motorboat would also be exempt fromnumbering if the motorboat were subject to the federal law.
(b) The following are prima facie evidence that a motorboat willbe operated on the waters of Indiana for more than sixty (60)consecutive days and must be registered under subsection (a)(1):
(1) The rental or lease for more than sixty (60) consecutive daysof a mooring facility that is located on the waters of Indiana forthe motorboat.
(2) The purchase of a mooring facility that is located on thewaters of Indiana for the motorboat.
(3) Any other contractual agreement that allows the use of amooring facility that is located on the waters of Indiana for:
(A) the motorboat; and
(B) more than sixty (60) consecutive days.
As added by P.L.71-1991, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.81-1993, SEC.4;P.L.64-1996, SEC.2; P.L.46-2006, SEC.3.
IC 9-31-3-3
Prerequisites to operation of motorboat on state waters
Sec. 3. Except as provided in sections 5 and 7 of this chapter, aperson may not operate or give permission for the operation of amotorboat on the waters of Indiana unless the motorboat is:
(1) registered and numbered under this chapter;
(2) in accordance with applicable federal law; or
(3) legally registered in another state.
As added by P.L.71-1991, SEC.11.
IC 9-31-3-4
Conditions of operation of motorboat on state waters
Sec. 4. Except as provided in sections 5 and 7 of this chapter, amotorboat may only be operated on the waters of Indiana if thefollowing conditions are met:
(1) The registration number awarded to the motorboat is in fullforce and effect.
(2) The identifying number set forth in the certificate ofregistration is displayed on each side of the bow of themotorboat. However, a motorboat that has a valid marinedocument issued by the United States Bureau of Customs is notrequired to display the registration number.
(3) The decals indicating the year and month of expiration ofregistration and class of boat are attached to the motorboat asprovided under IC 6-6-11.
As added by P.L.71-1991, SEC.11.
IC 9-31-3-5
Operation of motorboat with temporary permit
Sec. 5. A motorboat that has never been registered in Indiana andthat is purchased from a dealer licensed by the secretary of stateunder IC 9-31-4 may be operated on the waters of Indiana for aperiod of thirty-one (31) days from the date of purchase if theoperator has in the operator's possession the following:
(1) A bill of sale from the dealer giving the purchaser's nameand address, the date of purchase, and the make and type of boator the hull identification number.
(2) A temporary permit displayed on the forward portion of theboat, as provided in section 6 of this chapter.
As added by P.L.71-1991, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.210-2001,SEC.1; P.L.249-2001, SEC.1; P.L.106-2008, SEC.38.
IC 9-31-3-6
Temporary permits and registration forms
Sec. 6. (a) The secretary of state shall furnish temporary permitsand registration forms to a registered dealer upon request.
(b) A plate or card described in subsection (a) must display thefollowing information:
(1) The dealer's license number.
(2) The date of purchase, plainly stamped or stenciled on the
plate or card.
(c) A temporary permit may not be used or displayed unless theplate or card is furnished by the secretary of state.
(d) A dealer who authorizes the use of a temporary permit underthis section does not assume responsibility or incur liability forinjury to a person or property during the period the temporary permitis in effect.
As added by P.L.71-1991, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.106-2008,SEC.39; P.L.93-2010, SEC.16.
IC 9-31-3-7
Operation of motorboat with registration identification card
Sec. 7. A motorboat that is legally registered in this or anotherstate at the time of purchase may be operated for a period ofthirty-one (31) days from the date of purchase if the operator has inthe operator's possession the registration identification card of theprevious owner with the corresponding registration numbersdisplayed on the forward part of the boat.
As added by P.L.71-1991, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.210-2001, SEC.2and P.L.249-2001, SEC.2.
IC 9-31-3-8
Application for registration; establishment of ownership
Sec. 8. The owner of a motorboat that is required to be registeredand numbered by Indiana shall file an application for registrationwith the bureau. At the time of filing the application, the applicantmust provide proof of ownership and a hull identification number tothe bureau. If there is not a manufacturer's hull identification numberfor the motorboat, the bureau shall assign a hull identificationnumber at the time of registration in the same manner as a hullidentification number is assigned under IC 9-31-2-8. The feeprescribed under IC 9-29-15-2 shall be paid to the bureau forassigning a hull identification number. For purposes of registering amotorboat or obtaining a hull identification number to register amotorboat, ownership may be established by any one (1) of thefollowing:
(1) A manufacturer's or importer's certificate.
(2) A sworn statement of ownership as prescribed by thebureau. An affidavit executed, under penalties for perjury, bythe person filing the application shall be accepted as proof ofownership for any motorboat or sailboat that:
(A) is a Class 5 or lower motorboat under IC 6-6-11-11 (theboat excise tax) and the motorboat is not titled underIC 9-31-2; or
(B) is propelled by an internal combustion, steam, orelectrical inboard or outboard motor or engine or by anymechanical means, including sailboats that are equippedwith such a motor or engine when the sailboat is in operationwhether or not the sails are hoisted, if:
(i) the motorboat was made by an individual for the use of
the individual and not for resale; and
(ii) the motorboat is not titled under IC 9-31-2.
(3) A certificate of title or bill of sale.
(4) Other evidence of ownership required by the law of anotherstate from which the motorboat is brought into Indiana.
As added by P.L.71-1991, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.1-1992, SEC.64.
IC 9-31-3-9
Applications; signing; fees
Sec. 9. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), application undersection 8 of this chapter must be signed by the owner of themotorboat and accompanied by the fee specified under IC 9-29-15-4.
(b) A motorboat that is owned by the United States, a state, or asubdivision of a state is exempt from the payment of a fee to registerthe motorboat.
(c) The bureau shall transfer the money derived from the feescollected under subsection (a) to the department of natural resources.
As added by P.L.71-1991, SEC.11.
IC 9-31-3-10
Issuance of certificate of registration
Sec. 10. Upon receipt of a completed application under section 8of this chapter and fee under section 9 of this chapter, the bureaushall enter the application upon the bureau's records and shall issueto the applicant a certificate of registration in which is stated thenumber awarded to the motorboat and the name and address of theowner. The registration certificate shall be available at all times forinspection on the motorboat for which the registration certificate isissued whenever the motorboat is in operation.
As added by P.L.71-1991, SEC.11.
IC 9-31-3-11
Attachment of identification number to motorboat
Sec. 11. The owner shall paint on or attach to each side of the bowof the motorboat the registration number assigned under section 10of this chapter. The number shall be painted on or attached in themanner prescribed by rules adopted by the bureau so that the numberis clearly visible. The registration number shall be maintained inlegible condition.
As added by P.L.71-1991, SEC.11.
IC 9-31-3-12
Transfer of motorboat ownership
Sec. 12. Upon the transfer of ownership of a motorboat, the ownershall provide proper ownership documents and the certificate ofregistration to the new owner at the time of delivering the motorboat.The new owner shall file an application, along with the proper fee,with the bureau and a new registration certificate shall be issued inthe same manner as an original issue of a registration certificate.
As added by P.L.71-1991, SEC.11.
IC 9-31-3-13
Reissuance of certificate of registration; fees
Sec. 13. The bureau shall charge and collect the fee providedunder IC 9-29-15-5 for the reissuance of a certificate of registrationif the original certificate has been lost or destroyed or a correction isneeded to the registration information.
As added by P.L.71-1991, SEC.11.
IC 9-31-3-14
United States government numbering system; preemption
Sec. 14. If an agency of the United States government has anoverall system of identification numbering for motorboats within theUnited States, the registration and numbering system employed underthis chapter by the bureau must conform with the system.
As added by P.L.71-1991, SEC.11.
IC 9-31-3-15
Public records; inspection
Sec. 15. All records of the bureau made or kept under this chapterare public records and open to inspection by the public and anyauthorized law enforcement agency of the state.
As added by P.L.71-1991, SEC.11.
IC 9-31-3-16
Continuation of registration number
Sec. 16. A registration number awarded under this chaptercontinues in full force and effect as long as the annual registrationfee is paid under IC 6-6-11 unless the number is sooner terminatedor discontinued under this chapter.
As added by P.L.71-1991, SEC.11.
IC 9-31-3-17
Transfer of ownership, abandonment, or destruction of motorboat;notice; effect
Sec. 17. (a) The owner of a motorboat, within fifteen (15) days,shall furnish the bureau notice of any of the following:
(1) The transfer of all or any part of the owner's interest, otherthan the creation of a security interest in a motorboat registeredin Indiana under section 5 or 7 of this chapter.
(2) The destruction or abandonment of a motorboat.
(b) Except as provided in subsection (c), a transfer, destruction,or abandonment terminates the certificate of registration for themotorboat.
(c) If a transfer of a part interest does not affect the owner's rightto operate the motorboat, the transfer does not terminate thecertificate of registration.
As added by P.L.71-1991, SEC.11.
IC 9-31-3-18
Change in address of certificate holder Sec. 18. A holder of a certificate of registration shall notify thebureau within thirty-one (31) days if the holder's address no longerconforms to the address appearing on the registration certificate andshall furnish the bureau with the holder's new address. The bureaumay adopt rules to provide for either of the following:
(1) The surrender of the certificate of registration bearing theformer address and replacement with a certificate of registrationbearing the new address.
(2) The alteration of an outstanding certificate of registration toshow the new address of the holder.
As added by P.L.71-1991, SEC.11.
IC 9-31-3-19
Dealer numbers for demonstration or test motorboats
Sec. 19. A dealer licensed by the secretary of state underIC 9-31-4 may, upon application to the secretary of state, obtain acertificate of number for use in the testing or demonstrating ofmotorboats upon payment of the fee prescribed under IC 9-29-15-6for each registration number. The secretary of state shall issue one(1) plate for each certificate of number assigned under this section.The plate must be displayed within a boat that is being tested ordemonstrated while the boat is being tested or demonstrated.
As added by P.L.71-1991, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.1-1992, SEC.65;P.L.106-2008, SEC.40.
IC 9-31-3-20
Attachment or display of number other than awarded number;prohibition
Sec. 20. A number other than the number awarded to a motorboator granted reciprocity under this chapter may not be painted,attached, or otherwise displayed on either side of the bow of amotorboat.
As added by P.L.71-1991, SEC.11.
IC 9-31-3-21
Transmission of information to United States agency or official
Sec. 21. In accordance with any request made by an authorizedofficial or agency of the United States, the bureau shall transmit anyinformation compiled or otherwise available to the bureau under:
(1) IC 14-15-4-1;
(2) IC 14-15-4-2; and
(3) IC 14-15-4-3;
to the official or agency of the United States.
As added by P.L.71-1991, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.1-1995, SEC.59.
IC 9-31-3-22
Enforcement of chapter by peace officers
Sec. 22. Every peace officer of this state and its subdivisions,including an enforcement officer of the department of naturalresources, may enforce this chapter and may stop and board a
motorboat subject to this chapter.
As added by P.L.71-1991, SEC.11.
IC 9-31-3-23
Certificate of title; necessity for registration
Sec. 23. An unregistered motorboat may not be registered and theregistration of a registered motorboat may not be renewed unless themotorboat has a certificate of title issued by Indiana. However, awatercraft acquired by the Indiana owner before January 1, 1986, isnot required to have a certificate of title until ownership of thewatercraft is transferred to another person.
As added by P.L.71-1991, SEC.11.
IC 9-31-3-24
Chapter violations
Sec. 24. A person who violates this chapter commits a Class Cinfraction.
As added by P.L.71-1991, SEC.11.