Sec. 15-144. Vessel registration number or registration decal use by another
person or on another vessel. Schedule of fees payable to Commissioner of Motor
Vehicles. (a) Any owner desiring to obtain a vessel registration number or registration
decal shall apply to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles and shall file evidence of
ownership by affidavit or document. Upon receipt of an application in proper form
and the numbering fee, the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall assign a registration
number or registration decal and provide the owner with a temporary certificate of number or temporary certificate of decal. The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall issue
two registration decals and a permanent certificate. A registration decal shall be displayed on each side of the vessel at the bow in a manner prescribed by the Commissioner
of Environmental Protection. The certificate shall state the name of the owner, his address, a description of the vessel, its hull identification number, the expiration date of the
certificate and such other information as the Commissioner of Environmental Protection
may prescribe by regulations. Such certificate shall be carried aboard and shall be available for inspection upon the vessel for which it is issued whenever the owner or any
person authorized by him is aboard such vessel, except that the certificate of number for
a vessel which is less than twenty-six feet and which is rented for noncommercial purposes for less than twenty-four hours may be retained on shore by the owner of such
vessel or his agent at the place where such vessel departs or returns. If such certificate
is retained on shore, a rental agreement signed by the owner or his agent and by the
person renting the vessel shall be carried aboard such vessel and shall be available for
inspection. Such rental agreement shall contain the vessel number which appears on the
certificate of number and the length of time for which such vessel is rented.
(b) (1) The owner shall pay a fee to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles for deposit
with the State Treasurer for each vessel so numbered or registered in accordance with
the following schedule and subdivisions of this subsection:
| Overall Length | Overall Length |
at
least
(feet) | less
than
(feet) |
fee | at
least
(feet) | less
than
(feet) |
fee |
| | 12 | $ 7.50 | 40 | 41 | $270.00 |
| 12 | 13 | 11.25 | 41 | 42 | 292.50 |
| 13 | 14 | 15.00 | 42 | 43 | 315.00 |
| 14 | 15 | 18.75 | 43 | 44 | 322.50 |
| 15 | 16 | 22.50 | 44 | 45 | 330.00 |
| 16 | 17 | 30.00 | 45 | 46 | 337.50 |
| 17 | 18 | 37.50 | 46 | 47 | 345.00 |
| 18 | 19 | 45.00 | 47 | 48 | 352.50 |
| 19 | 20 | 52.50 | 48 | 49 | 360.00 |
| 20 | 21 | 60.00 | 49 | 50 | 367.50 |
| 21 | 22 | 67.50 | 50 | 51 | 375.00 |
| 22 | 23 | 75.00 | 51 | 52 | 382.50 |
| 23 | 24 | 82.50 | 52 | 53 | 390.00 |
| 24 | 25 | 90.00 | 53 | 54 | 397.50 |
| 25 | 26 | 97.50 | 54 | 55 | 405.00 |
| 26 | 27 | 105.00 | 55 | 56 | 412.50 |
| 27 | 28 | 112.50 | 56 | 57 | 420.00 |
| 28 | 29 | 120.00 | 57 | 58 | 427.50 |
| 29 | 30 | 127.50 | 58 | 59 | 435.00 |
| 30 | 31 | 135.00 | 59 | 60 | 442.50 |
| 31 | 32 | 142.50 | 60 | 61 | 450.00 |
| 32 | 33 | 150.00 | 61 | 62 | 457.50 |
| 33 | 34 | 157.50 | 62 | 63 | 465.00 |
| 34 | 35 | 165.00 | 63 | 64 | 472.50 |
| 35 | 36 | 172.50 | 64 | 65 | 480.00 |
| 36 | 37 | 180.00 | 65 and over | | 525.00 |
| 37 | 38 | 202.50 | | | |
| 38 | 39 | 225.00 | | | |
| 39 | 40 | 247.50 | | | |
For purposes of this schedule "overall length" is the horizontal distance between the
foremost part of the stem and the aftermost part of the stern, excluding bowsprits, bumpkins, rudders, outboard motor brackets and similar fittings or attachments. (2) The fee
payable under this subsection with respect to any vessel used primarily for purposes of
commercial fishing shall not exceed twenty-five dollars, provided in the tax year of the
owner of such vessel ending immediately preceding the date of registration, not less
than fifty per cent of the adjusted gross income of such owner as determined for purposes
of the federal income tax is derived from commercial fishing, subject to proof satisfactory to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. (3) The fee payable under this subsection
with respect to any vessel constructed primarily of wood, the construction of which is
completed not less than fifteen years prior to the date such fee is paid, shall be in an
amount equal to fifty per cent of the fee otherwise payable, or if such construction is
completed not less than twenty-five years prior to the date such fee is paid, such fee
shall be in an amount equal to twenty-five per cent of the fee otherwise payable. (4)
Fees payable under this subsection shall not be required with respect to (A) any vessel
owned by a flotilla of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary or owned by a nonprofit
corporation acting on behalf of such a flotilla, provided no more than two vessels from
any such flotilla or nonprofit corporation shall be granted such an exemption and (B)
any vessel built by students in an educational institution and used for the purposes of
such institution, including such research as may require the use of such vessel. (5) The
fee payable under this subsection with respect to any pontoon boat, exclusive of any
houseboat, shall be forty dollars. (6) The fee payable under this subsection with respect
to any canoe with a motor or any vessel owned by a nonprofit organization shall be
seven dollars and fifty cents. (7) The fee payable under this subsection with respect to
any vessel less than fifteen feet in length equipped with a motor the horsepower of which
is less than fifteen, shall be seven dollars and fifty cents. (8) The owner of any vessel
used actively, as required under this subdivision, in operational activities of the United
States Coast Guard Auxiliary shall not be required to pay the applicable fee in accordance
with the schedule in this subsection, provided (A) if the applicable fee under the schedule
for such vessel is greater than one hundred eighty dollars, the owner shall be required
to pay the amount of fee in excess of one hundred eighty dollars and (B) the owner shall
not be entitled to exemption from the applicable fee as allowed in this subdivision for
any vessel registration year unless the application for registration of such vessel includes
a statement, certified by an officer of the United States Coast Guard, that in the preceding
year such vessel was used actively in not less than three separate operational activities
of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary.
(c) The owner shall cause the registration number or registration decal to be displayed on each side of the vessel at the bow in such manner as the Commissioner of
Environmental Protection prescribes. The number shall be maintained in a legible condition and shall be clearly visible and entirely unobscured. No number other than the
registration number assigned by this state or by the United States or by another state
pursuant to the provisions of the federal Boat Safety Act of 1971 shall be displayed on
either side of a vessel at the bow.
(d) Each certificate of number and certificate of registration issued by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, shall expire on the last day of April of the year following its
issuance. At least thirty days prior to the expiration date of each certificate, the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall notify the owner of such expiration and the certificate
may be renewed as prescribed by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles upon application
and upon payment of the fee provided in subsection (b) of this section. The registration
number assigned to a vessel shall remain the same so long as the vessel is registered in
this state.
(e) (1) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles may permit marine dealers, as defined
in section 15-141, to assign registration numbers and issue temporary certificates of
number upon the sale or transfer of a vessel. The dealer shall within ten days from the
issuance of such temporary certificate submit to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles an
application together with all necessary documents, information and fees for a permanent
certificate of number for the vessel transfer.
(2) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles may permit such marine dealers to issue
temporary certificates of decal upon the sale or transfer of a documented vessel. The
dealer shall within ten days from the issuance of such temporary certificate submit to the
Commissioner of Motor Vehicles an application together with all necessary documents,
information and fees for a permanent certificate of decal with respect to such vessel.
(3) On and after March 1, 2005, the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall permit
marine dealers, as defined in section 15-141, to submit the applications and documents
required under subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection by electronic means. Said
commissioner shall adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, to carry out the
provisions of this subdivision.
(f) The Commissioner of Environmental Protection may require the owner of any
vessel to submit as part of his application such information concerning waste discharges
and onboard waste disposal systems as the Commissioner of Environmental Protection
may prescribe by regulations. The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall promptly
forward to the Commissioner of Environmental Protection any such information submitted to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles as part of an application.
(g) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles may adopt such regulations as are reasonably necessary to carry out his powers, duties and functions under this chapter.
(h) (1) Any person who operates or any owner who permits the operation of a vessel
on the waters of this state which has not been numbered or registered in accordance
with the provisions of this chapter and any other applicable section of the general statutes
shall have committed a violation and shall be fined not less than twenty-five dollars or
more than two hundred dollars for the first offense and for each subsequent offense shall
be fined not less than two hundred dollars or more than five hundred dollars. (2) No
person shall use any vessel registration or registration decals that have been issued to
another person pursuant to sections 15-142 to 15-144, inclusive. No person shall use a
vessel registration or registration decals on any vessel other than the vessel for which
such registration number or registration decals have been issued. Any person who violates any provision of this subdivision shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars
or imprisoned not more than thirty days, or both. (3) Any officer empowered to enforce
the provisions of this chapter and any other applicable section of the general statutes
who finds a vessel which is not numbered or registered in accordance with the provisions
of this chapter and such discovery is subsequent to a violation of this chapter may make
application to the court for a warrant to seize such vessel and take it into custody pending
proof of payment of proper numbering or registration fees. No officer shall be liable for
any act performed under the provisions of this subsection.
(1961, P.A. 506, S. 11; 1967, P.A. 175, S. 3; 1971, P.A. 668, S. 4; 872, S. 385; P.A. 73-257, S. 10, 27; P.A. 76-381, S.
28; P.A. 80-89; P.A. 81-423, S. 5, 25; P.A. 82-283, S. 3, 4; 82-348, S. 2, 6; 82-436, S. 2, 8-11; P.A. 83-266, S. 3, 4; P.A.
84-495, S. 1, 4; P.A. 86-270; P.A. 87-289, S. 1, 2; P.A. 88-316, S. 1, 2; P.A. 96-167, S. 48, 49; P.A. 03-244, S. 14; P.A.
04-199, S. 18; 04-257, S. 27.)
History: 1967 act added provisions re validation decals in Subsec. (a) and decreased fee from five to four dollars and
replaced provisions re certificate expiration and renewal fee with new provisions which replace three-year validity term
with one-year term and reduce fee from five to three dollars; 1971 acts replaced set fee of four dollars for all boats with
schedule wherein fee depends on length of boat and replaced "commission", i.e. boating commission, with "commissioner",
i.e. environmental protection commissioner; P.A. 73-257 made commissioner of motor vehicles, rather than town clerk
and environmental protection commissioner, responsible for issuing identification numbers, deleted requirement that certificate be "pocket size", required that certificate be available for inspection when anyone is on board rather than when boat
is in operation, revised fee provisions and designated them as Subsec. (b), relettering former Subsecs. (b) and (c) as (c)
and (d), changed "Federal Boating Act of 1958" to "Federal Boat Safety Act of 1971" in Subsec. (c), formerly (b), deleted
obsolete provision re licenses expiring on April 30, 1972, and provision for penalty of one-half of registration fee if renewal
made after expiration date and allowed payment of tax in town where boat stored in Subsec. (d), formerly (c), and added
Subsecs. (e) to (h); P.A. 76-381 replaced provision for twenty-five to fifty-dollar fine with statement that violation is an
infraction in Subsec. (h); P.A. 80-89 added provisions in Subsec. (a) re retention of certificates on shore when boat is a
rental boat; P.A. 81-423 replaced "motorboat" references with "vessel" references, and referred to registration numbers
and decals rather than identification numbers, replaced schedule of fees for motorboats with schedule of fees for all vessels,
deleted provisions re owner's option to pay tax in town of residence or town in which boat usually kept or operated in
keeping with abolition of tax on vessels and added provision re temporary certificates, effective July 1, 1981, and applicable
to registration fees for boat registration year commencing May 1, 1982, and thereafter; P.A. 82-283 added Subdiv. (4) to
Subsec. (b) providing that fee requirements are not applicable to a vessel owned by a flotilla of the United States Coast
Guard Auxiliary or a nonprofit corporation acting on behalf of such a flotilla; P.A. 82-348 changed the penalty in Subsec.
(h) from an infraction to a violation, applicable to the owner of any vessel operated in state waters without being numbered
or registered as required in chapter 268 or any applicable section of the general statutes; P.A. 82-436 added Subdivs. (5),
(6) and (7) to Subsec. (b), providing for an annual fee of forty dollars, applicable to any pontoon boat, exclusive of any
houseboat, providing that the annual fee applicable to any canoe with a motor or any vessel owned by a nonprofit organization shall be fifteen dollars, and providing that the fee applicable to any vessel less than fifteen feet in length with a motor
the horsepower of which is less than fifteen shall be ten dollars, and also amended Subsec. (d) to provide that the registration
number assigned to a vessel shall remain the same so long as the vessel is registered in this state rather than so long as
certificate of number is continually renewed; P.A. 83-266 included technical amendments in Subsec. (b), primarily concerning deletion of redundant references to certain subdivisions in said Subsec. (b); P.A. 84-495 amended Subsec. (b) by
substituting a reduced schedule of fees for all vessels numbered or registered, effective June 11, 1984, and applicable to
the boat registration year commencing May 1, 1985; P.A. 86-270 amended Subsec. (h) by adding provisions specifying
penalty for subsequent offenses and re seizure of vessels; P.A. 87-289 amended Subsec. (b) by providing for exemption
from registration fees for any vessel built by students in an educational institution and used for purposes of such institution,
effective June 10, 1987, and applicable to the vessel registration year commencing May 1, 1987, and each such registration
year thereafter; P.A. 88-316 amended Subsec. (b) to allow exemptions from the applicable fee for any vessel used in
operational activities of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, provided the owner shall be required to pay any portion
of the fee in excess of one hundred eighty dollars and such exemption shall not be allowed unless in the year preceding
exemption the vessel was used actively in at least three such operational activities, effective June 6, 1988, and applicable
to the vessel registration year commencing May 1, 1988, and each registration year thereafter; P.A. 96-167 amended
Subsec. (b)(6) to reduce fee from fifteen dollars to seven dollars and fifty cents, effective July 1, 1996; P.A. 03-244 amended
Subsec. (h) to divide existing provisions into Subdivs. (1) and (3) and add new Subdiv. (2) re use of vessel registration or
registration decals by another person or on another vessel; P.A. 04-199 amended Subsec. (e) by adding new Subdiv. (3)
permitting marine dealers, on and after March 1, 2005, to submit applications and documents required under section by
electronic means and requiring commissioner to adopt regulations to carry out provisions of subdivision, effective July 1,
2004; P.A. 04-257 made technical changes in Subsec. (h), effective June 14, 2004.
See chapter 54 re uniform administrative procedure.
See chapter 881b re infractions of the law.
Cited. 198 C. 168, 170, 172.
Cited. 12 CA 417, 423.
Subsec. (a):
Cited. 198 C. 168, 172, 175, 180, 181.
Cited. 12 CA 417, 421.
Subsec. (h):
Cited. 198 C. 168, 172.
Cited. 12 CA 417, 418, 420-422. Cited. 20 CA 452-454.
Sec. 15-144a. Provision of information re registrants to tax assessors. Section
15-144a is repealed.
(1971, P.A. 668, S. 5; P.A. 73-257, S. 11, 27; P.A. 81-423, S. 24.)
Sec. 15-145. Marine dealer's and marine engine manufacturer's registration
numbers and certificates. Availability and renewal of certificates. Use of vessel.
Restrictions. (a) A marine dealer or marine engine manufacturer may obtain one or
more marine dealer's registration numbers upon application to the Commissioner of
Environmental Protection, and upon payment of a fee of fifty dollars for each number.
Such funds shall be deposited in the boating account of the Conservation Fund. Such
application shall contain an affidavit stating that (1) such marine dealer is a person
engaged in the business of manufacturing, selling or repairing new or used vessels and
that such person has an established place of business for the sale, trade, display or repair
of such vessels, or (2) such marine engine manufacturer is a person engaged in the
business of manufacturing, selling or repairing marine engines and that such person has
an established place of business for the sale, trade, display or repair of such engines. A
marine dealer's or marine engine manufacturer's registration certificate shall be denominated as such and shall state the dealer's or engine manufacturer's name, residence
address, business address, registration number, the expiration date of the certificate and
such other information as the Commissioner of Environmental Protection may prescribe.
The certificate, or a copy of the certificate, shall be carried aboard and shall be available
for inspection upon each vessel which displays the dealer's registration number whenever such vessel is in operation. A number or certificate may not be used on more than
one vessel at a time. Each certificate shall be renewed on the first day of May of the
year following the date of issue and shall expire on the last day of April of the year
following such renewal, unless sooner terminated or surrendered. At least thirty days
prior to the expiration day of each certificate, the Commissioner of Environmental Protection shall notify each dealer and manufacturer of such expiration. Within ninety days
before its expiration, each dealer's or manufacturer's certificate may be renewed upon
application and upon payment of the fee provided in this section. Each registration
number assigned to a marine dealer or marine engine manufacturer shall remain the
same so long as such dealer or manufacturer continues, under the same name, in the
business described in such dealer's or manufacturer's application affidavit as required
pursuant to this subsection.
(b) A marine dealer's registration number shall be displayed in such manner as
the Commissioner of Environmental Protection prescribes on vessels operated for the
purpose of sale, trade, repair or transport and on any vessel sold by such dealer for not
more than five days after the date of such sale, and on any vessel used by a marine
engine manufacturer for the sole purpose of testing or demonstrating marine engines
manufactured or repaired by such person. Any vessel displaying a marine dealer's registration number shall be presumed to be properly registered.
(c) No marine dealer or marine engine manufacturer may (1) rent, or allow or cause
to be rented, (2) operate, or allow or cause to be operated, for hire, or (3) use, or allow
or cause to be used, for the purpose of conveying passengers or merchandise or freight
for hire, any vessel registered with a marine dealer's or marine engine manufacturer's
number and certificate. No marine dealer or marine engine manufacturer may loan a
number certificate to any person except (A) for the purpose of demonstrating a vessel;
(B) when a vessel owned by or lawfully in the custody of such person is undergoing
repairs; or (C) when such person has purchased a vessel, the registration of which has
not yet been completed and in any case for not more than five consecutive days. Each
marine dealer or marine engine manufacturer shall keep a record of each loaned number
certificate showing the date loaned, the vessel hull identification number (HIN) of the
vessel on which such number is displayed, the date returned and the name and address
of the person operating any vessel with such loaned number certificate. Such dealer or
engine manufacturer shall give a copy of this record to each person to whom such number
certificate is loaned, which copy shall be carried in the vessel at all times when operated.
This record shall be retained by the dealer or engine manufacturer for a period of six
months from the date on which the number certificate was loaned and such record shall
be available during business hours for examination by any police officer, marine officer
or conservation officer.
(d) Any marine dealer may operate, or cause to be operated by a bona fide full-time
employee, a vessel with a marine dealer's registration number (1) while a potential
purchaser or customer is aboard, (2) when running a new vessel from an import terminal
to the dealer's place of business, (3) when test running a new vessel after receiving it
from the manufacturer, (4) when delivering a sold vessel to the new owner, (5) when
running a trade-in vessel from a buyer, (6) when test running a trade-in vessel before it
is made available for sale, (7) when running a vessel to, and using a vessel in, a fishing
tournament, and (8) when test running a vessel after repairs, maintenance or winter
storage. Each marine dealer shall maintain a record of the following: (A) Each marine
number certificate issued by the commissioner to such dealer, (B) the name, address
and occupation of any bona fide full-time employee to whom such certificate has been
assigned, (C) the date of assignment of such certificate, and (D) the exact location of
each unassigned certificate. For the purposes of this subsection, "bona fide full-time
employee" means a person who is employed by a marine dealer for not less than thirty-five hours per week and who appears on the records of such marine dealer as an employee
for whom tax is withheld for Social Security, federal income tax and any other withholding or deductions from salary required by law.
(e) No person may use a vessel with a marine dealer's or marine engine manufacturer's registration number for any purpose other than the purposes described in this section.
The commissioner may revoke any marine dealer's or marine engine manufacturer's
registration number under this section if any vessel with a number issued to such dealer
or engine manufacturer is used in violation of this section.
(1961, P.A. 506, S. 12; 1971, P.A. 872, S. 386; P.A. 73-257, S. 12, 27; P.A. 74-302, S. 2, 3; P.A. 81-423, S. 6, 25; P.A.
82-436, S. 3, 11; P.A. 84-268, S. 4; P.A. 94-188, S. 28; P.A. 99-114.)
History: 1971 act replaced "commission", referring to boating commission, with "commissioner", referring to commissioner of environmental protection; P.A. 73-257 required that ID numbers be applied for to commissioner of motor vehicles
rather than commissioner of environmental protection, increased fee from five to ten dollars, included commissioner of
motor vehicles in provision re information on certificate and changed validity period from three years to one year in Subsec.
(a) and made technical change to Subsec. (b) for clarity; P.A. 74-302 added provision re affidavit in Subsec. (a) and revised
expiration provision in Subsec. (b) so that licenses expire on same date (last day of April) rather than one year from date
of issue; P.A. 81-423 substituted "registration" for "identification" numbers and "vessels" for "motorboats" and raised fee
from ten to fifteen dollars; P.A. 82-436 amended Subsec. (a) by requiring that applications by marine dealers for registration
numbers are subject to approval by the commissioner of environmental protection, and increased fee for each such registration number from fifteen dollars to twenty-five dollars; P.A. 84-268 transferred authority to receive applications for registration numbers and to notify dealers of impending expiration dates from motor vehicles commissioner to environmental
protection commissioner; P.A. 94-188 amended Subsec. (a) to add provisions re marine engine manufacturers and amended
Subsec. (b) by deleting "solely" after "prescribes" and by including vessels used by marine engine manufacturers for the
sole purpose of testing or demonstrating marine engines manufactured or repaired by them; P.A. 99-114 amended Subsec.
(a) to increase the fee for a marine dealer or marine engine manufacturer registration number from twenty-five to fifty
dollars, provide that such funds be deposited into the boating account of the Conservation Fund, provide for the carrying
of a copy of the certificate, and provide that a number or certificate may not be used on more than one vessel at a time,
amended Subsec. (b) to allow operation of vessels with such numbers for purposes of repair or transport and add provision
re presumption that a vessel displaying a marine dealer's registration number is properly registered, and added Subsecs.
(c), (d) and (e) re restrictions on use of vessels with such numbers.
Sec. 15-145a. Marine dealer's registration numbers for boat trailers. (a) Each
marine dealer, as defined in section 15-141, may make application to the Commissioner
of Motor Vehicles for a general distinguishing number and mark in lieu of registering
each boat trailer owned by him or in his custody, and the commissioner may issue to
the applicant a certificate or certificates of registration containing the distinguishing
number and mark assigned to such applicant, and made in a form and containing any
further information that the commissioner may require. Each such boat trailer owned
by such applicant or temporarily in his custody shall be regarded as registered under
and having assigned to it such general distinguishing number and mark until sold. Such
application shall contain an affidavit stating that such dealer is a person engaged in the
business of manufacturing, selling or repairing new or used vessels and that such person
has an established place of business for the sale, trade, display or repair of such vessels.
For the registration of all boat trailers registered under a general distinguishing number
and mark, the commissioner shall charge a fee at the rate of fifty dollars per annum or
any part thereof for each number plate furnished. The issuance of such registrations
shall be in the sole discretion of the commissioner and may be recalled at any time for
any reason or cause the commissioner deems sufficient.
(b) Each marine dealer who is in possession of one or more such registrations shall
report such information to the tax assessor of the municipality wherein such dealer is
located.
(P.A. 92-133, S. 6, 9.)
Sec. 15-146. Notice of change of address. Within fifteen days after changing his
address, the owner of a vessel with a registration number or registration decal issued
by this state shall file with the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles notice in writing of
such change. The owner's certificate of number or registration may be altered or the
Commissioner of Motor Vehicles may issue a new certificate to indicate the new address.
Failure to file notice of change of address as required by this section shall be an infraction.
(1961, P.A. 506, S. 13; 1971, P.A. 872, S. 387; P.A. 73-257, S. 13, 27; P.A. 76-381, S. 29; P.A. 81-423, S. 7, 25.)
History: 1971 act replaced "commission", referring to boating commission, with "commissioner", referring to commissioner of environmental protection; P.A. 73-257 transferred duties of environmental protection commissioner under section
to commissioner of motor vehicles; P.A. 76-381 made failure to give notice of address change an infraction; P.A. 81-423
inserted reference to vessel registration number or registration decal, replacing reference to "motorboats numbered" by state.
See chapter 881b re infractions of the law.
Sec. 15-147. Termination of certificate of number upon transfer, destruction
or abandonment of vessel. (a) The owner of a vessel which has been awarded a registration number or registration decal by this state shall notify the Commissioner of Motor
Vehicles in writing within fifteen days of the transfer of all or any part of his interest
in, other than the creation of a security interest, or of the theft, loss, destruction or
abandonment of, such vessel and surrender with such notice his certificate of number.
Any such transfer, theft, loss, destruction or abandonment shall terminate said certificate.
(b) Any person who transfers to another ownership of a vessel numbered by this
state or a vessel having been awarded a registration decal by this state or who presents
evidence satisfactory to the commissioner that such vessel has been stolen, lost or destroyed, may, upon surrendering the outstanding certificate of number or certificate of
decal and upon application and payment of a fee of one dollar, have another vessel
numbered in his name for the remainder of the numbering period, or may have another
registration decal issued in his name for the remainder of the registration period, provided if the numbering fee or registration decal fee in accordance with the provisions
of section 15-144 is greater for such other vessel to be numbered or to obtain a registration
decal than the fee paid for said registration period with respect to the vessel transferred,
such person shall pay a fee in addition to said one dollar, equal to the registration fee
in said section 15-144 for such other vessel to be numbered or to receive a registration
decal minus the amount of such fee paid for said registration period with respect to the
vessel transferred.
(c) Violation of any provision of this section shall be an infraction.
(d) Any person, who for reasons acceptable to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles,
requests a change in the type of registration issued for a vessel owned by such person,
from a registration number to a registration decal, or from a registration decal to a
registration number, may, upon surrendering the outstanding registration and payment
of a fee of three dollars, have the new registration for such vessel issued in such person's
name for the remainder of the registration period.
(1961, P.A. 506, S. 14; 1971, P.A. 872, S. 388; P.A. 73-257, S. 14, 27; P.A. 76-381, S. 30; P.A. 81-423, S. 8, 25; P.A.
82-436, S. 4, 11; P.A. 89-23.)
History: 1971 act replaced "commission", referring to boating commission, with "commissioner", referring to commissioner of environmental protection; P.A. 73-257 required notification of commissioner of motor vehicles rather than
environmental protection commissioner and required notification of theft or loss in Subsec. (a) and added proviso in Subsec.
(b); P.A. 76-381 added Subsec. (c) making violation an infraction; P.A. 81-423 inserted references in appropriate places
to registration number or registration decal, replacing reference to motorboats "numbered" by state; P.A. 82-436 added
Subsec. (d) providing that with approval of commissioner of motor vehicles any owner of a vessel may change the type
of registration issued, whether registration number or registration decal, to the other type upon payment of a fee of three
dollars; P.A. 89-23 amended Subsec. (b) to include persons who present satisfactory evidence that the vessel has been
stolen, lost or destroyed.
See chapter 881b re infractions of the law.