Relating to the registration requirements for certain vessels and the use of registration fees, and making penalties applicable

This bill relates to registration requirements for certain vessels. Under current law, vessels of any length without a motor shall pay to a county recorder a registration fee of $12 in order for the vessel to be issued an identification number. A vessel may not be used on the waters of this state that are under the jurisdiction of the natural resource commission (NRC) without an identification number. Current law exempts conventional design canoes and kayak type vessels that are feet or less in length from the numbering and registration requirements. The bill increases the registration fee for vessels of any length without a motor to $20. Additionally, the bill lowers the length for which canoe and kayak type vessels may be exempt from numbering and registration requirements to feet or less. A person who uses a canoe or kayak type vessel more than feet in length on waters under NRC’s jurisdiction without registering the vessel as required by the bill shall be punished by a scheduled fine of $30. Under current law, fees collected for the registration of vessels are forwarded by NRC to the treasurer of state for deposit in the state fish and game protection fund. Such moneys are appropriated to NRC solely for the administration and enforcement of navigation laws and water safety. The bill authorizes the moneys to also be appropriated for water trail development and maintenance.