§33-5-54. Issuance of boater safety certification.

(a) Unless otherwise provided in this article, upon the installation of a system for the issuance of boater safety certifications with color photographs of holders, all certifications and renewals issued in this state shall be issued in the following manner:

(1) The person shall apply under oath to the judge of probate or license commissioner of the county of residence for the certification or renewal upon a form which shall be provided by the Director of Public Safety.

(2) Subject to the other provisions of this section, the judge of probate or license commissioner shall take a color photograph of the holder, with equipment to be furnished by the Department of Public Safety, to be attached to each application.

(b) It is the legislative intent to implement and maintain a boater safety certification program at the lowest possible cost to the citizens of Alabama. Consistent with this goal, it is the legislative intent to not require payment for boater safety certifications when certifications are obtained at the time of issuance of a valid Alabama motor vehicle driver or learner license or valid Alabama nondriver identification card, but rather utilize one card for those purposes.

(c) The following requirements shall apply to persons obtaining boater safety certifications other than at the time of issuance of their Alabama motor vehicle driver or learner license or identification card:

For the purpose of defraying the cost of issuing boater safety certifications with color photographs of the holder thereon, the judge of probate or license commissioner shall collect for each certification the sum of twenty dollars ($20) for a four-year certification, and the judge of probate or license commissioner shall give the applicant a boater safety certification.

(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, in the event the applicant is, at the time of issuance, also issued a valid Alabama motor vehicle driver or learner license or valid Alabama nondriver identification card, then the applicant shall not be required to pay any additional amount for the boater safety certification.

(e) Any person given a citation for failure to have a boater safety certification who had a current, valid boater safety certification at the time of the citation which was not on his or her person at the time the citation was issued, may present the boater safety certification to the court or the court clerk and the citation shall be dismissed without the payment of any costs.

(Acts 1994, No. 94-652, p. 1243, §7; Act 2001-695, p. 1477, §3.)