§33-5-15. Certificates of registration and numbers generally - Foreign vessels; change of ownership.

(a) Any vessel already covered by a number in full force and effect which has been awarded to it pursuant to the operative federal law or federally approved numbering system of another state may be operated on the waters of this state for a period of 90 consecutive days without being licensed under the provisions of this article. Any vessel operating for more than 90 consecutive days must then be registered and licensed in the same manner as other vessels are required to be licensed under this article.

(b) Should the ownership of a vessel change, a new application form with a fee of three dollars ($3) for change in registration shall be filed with the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and a new certificate issued transferring the original vessel number to the new owner; provided, however, that the Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources may at his or her discretion provide by duly promulgated regulations a system for the issuance of such changes of registration by the probate judges and license commissioners of this state, and, in the event such change of registration certificates are issued by such probate judges and license commissioners, they shall be entitled to a fee therefor of two dollars ($2).

(c) No citizen or resident of this state may operate his or her vessel on the waters of this state when such vessel is under foreign registry; provided, however, that any such citizen or resident who has previously registered his or her vessel in another state or by federal registry before coming into this state may operate same for a period of 90 consecutive days without being required to register under the provisions of this article.

(Acts 1959, No. 576, p. 1442, §10; Acts 1965, No. 787, p. 1473, §1; Act 2007-420, p. 896, §1.)