GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
1993 SESSION
CHAPTER 422
AN ACT TO INCREASE FEES FOR BOAT CERTIFICATES OF NUMBER AND TO CLARIFY THE USE OF THE FEES.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1. G.S. 75A-3(c) reads as rewritten:
"(c) The Boating
Account is established within the Wildlife Resources Fund created under G.S.
143-250. All moneys collected pursuant to the numbering and
titling provisions of this Chapter and pursuant to G.S. 105-446.2 shall be deposited
in the State treasury and credited to a special fund known as the
Wildlife Resources Fund and provided by G.S. 143-250. The said moneys shall be
made available to this Account and used by the Wildlife Resources
Commission, subject to the Executive Budget Act and the Personnel Act, for the
administration and enforcement of this Article, Chapter; for
activities relating to boating and water safety including education and
waterway marking and improvement, improvement; and for boating
access area acquisition, development development, and maintenance
all in accordance with plans approved by the Wildlife Resources Commission.
Such funds are hereby appropriated, reserved, set aside, and made available to
the Wildlife Resources Commission until expended for the purpose set forth in
this Article. maintenance."
Sec. 2. G.S. 75A-5(a) reads as rewritten:
"(a) The owner of each
vessel requiring numbering by this State shall file an application for number
with the Wildlife Resources Commission on forms approved by it. The
application shall be signed by the owner of the vessel, or his agent, and shall
be accompanied by a fee of five dollars and fifty cents ($5.50) eight
dollars ($8.00) for a one-year period or by a fee of thirteen dollars
($13.00) twenty dollars ($20.00) for a three-year period; provided,
however, there shall be no fee charged for vessels owned and operated by
nonprofit rescue squads if they are operated exclusively for rescue purposes,
including rescue training. The applicant shall have the option of
selecting a one-year numbering period or a three-year numbering period.
Upon receipt of the application in approved form, the Commission shall have the
same entered upon the records of its office and issue to the applicant a
certificate of number stating the number awarded to the vessel and the name and
address of the owner, and a validation decal indicating the expiration date of
the certificate of number. The owner shall paint on or attach to each
side of the bow of the vessel the identification number in such manner as may
be prescribed by rules and regulations of the Commission in order that
it may be clearly visible. The number shall be maintained in legible
condition. The validation decal shall be displayed on the starboard bow
of the vessel immediately following the number. The certificate of number
shall be pocket size and shall be available at all times for inspection on the
vessel for which issued, whenever such vessel is in operation. Provided,
however, any person charged with failing to so carry such certificate of number
shall not be convicted if he produces in court a certificate of number
theretofore issued to him and valid at the time of his arrest."
Sec. 3. G.S. 75A-5(c) reads as rewritten:
"(c) Should the ownership
of a vessel change, a new application form with a fee of five dollars and
fifty cents ($5.50) eight dollars ($8.00) for a one-year period or
by a fee of thirteen dollars ($13.00) twenty dollars ($20.00) for
a three-year period shall be filed with the Wildlife Resources Commission and a
new certificate bearing the same number shall be awarded the new owner in the
manner as provided for in an original award of number. In case a
certificate should become lost, a new certificate bearing the same number shall
be issued upon payment of a fee of two dollars ($2.00). Possession of the
certificate shall in cases involving prosecution for violation of any provision
of this Chapter be prima facie evidence that the person whose name appears
therein is the owner of the boat referred to therein."
Sec. 4. G.S. 75A-5(h) reads as rewritten:
"(h) Each certificate of
number awarded pursuant to this Chapter must be renewed on or before the first
day of the month next succeeding that during which the same expires; otherwise,
such certificate shall lapse and be void until such time as it may thereafter
be renewed. Application for renewal shall be submitted on a form approved
by the Wildlife Resources Commission and shall be accompanied by a fee of five
dollars and fifty cents ($5.50) eight dollars ($8.00) for a one-year
period or by a fee of thirteen dollars ($13.00) twenty dollars
($20.00) for a three-year period; provided, there shall be no fee required
for renewal of certificates of number which have been previously issued to
commercial fishing boats as defined in G.S. 75A-5.1, upon compliance with all
of the requirements of that section."
Sec. 5. This act becomes effective January 1, 1994.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 21st day of July, 1993.
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Dennis A. Wicker
President of the Senate
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Daniel Blue, Jr.
Speaker of the House of Representatives