H-1474              _______________________________________________

 

                                                    HOUSE BILL NO. 807

                        _______________________________________________

 

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1985 Regular Session

 

By Representatives Appelwick, Rust, Sommers and Jacobsen

 

 

Read first time 2/8/85 and referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

 

 


AN ACT Relating to watercraft registration and watercraft excise tax; and amending RCW 88.02.030 and 88.02.050.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

 

        Sec. 1.  Section 16, chapter 7, Laws of 1983 as last amended by section 2, chapter 250, Laws of 1984 and RCW 88.02.030 are each amended to read as follows:

          Vessel registration is required under this chapter except for the following:

          (1) Military or public vessels of the United States, except recreational-type public vessels;

          (2) Vessels owned by a state or subdivision thereof, used principally for governmental purposes and clearly identifiable as such;

          (3) Vessels owned by a resident of a country other than the United States if the vessel is not physically located upon the waters of this state for a period of more than sixty days;

          (4) Vessels owned by a resident of another state if the vessel is registered in accordance with the laws of the state in which the owner resides, but only to the extent that a similar exemption or privilege is granted under the laws of that state for vessels registered in this state:  PROVIDED, That any vessel which is validly registered in another state and which is physically located in this state for a period of more than sixty days is subject to registration under this chapter;

          (5) Vessels used as a ship's lifeboat;

          (6) Vessels equipped with propulsion machinery of less than ten horse power that:

          (a) Are owned by the owner of a vessel for which a valid vessel number has been issued;

          (b) Display the number of that numbered vessel followed by the suffix "1" in the manner prescribed by the department; and

          (c) Are used as a tender for direct transportation between that vessel and the shore and for no other purpose;

           (7) Vessels under sixteen feet in overall length which have no propulsion machinery of any type or which are not used on waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States or on the high seas beyond the territorial seas for vessels owned in the United States;

          (8) Vessels with no propulsion machinery of any type for which the primary mode of propulsion is human power;

          (9) Vessels which are temporarily in this state undergoing repair or alteration;

          (10) Vessels primarily engaged in commerce which have or are required to have a valid marine document as a vessel of the United States; and

          (11) Vessels primarily engaged in commerce which are owned by a resident of a country other than the United States.

 

        Sec. 2.  Section 18, chapter 7, Laws of 1983 as amended by section 45, chapter 3, Laws of 1983 2nd ex. sess. and RCW 88.02.050 are each amended to read as follows:

          Application for a vessel registration shall be made to the department or its authorized agent in the manner and upon forms prescribed by the department.  The application shall state the name and address of each owner of the vessel and such other information as may be required by the department, shall be signed by at least one owner, and shall be accompanied by a vessel registration fee of six dollars per year and the excise tax imposed under chapter 82.49 RCW.  Any fees required for licensing agents under RCW 46.01.140 shall be in addition to the six-dollar annual registration fee.

          Upon receipt of the application and the registration fee, the department shall assign a registration number and issue a decal for each vessel.  The registration number and decal shall be issued and affixed to the vessel in a manner prescribed by the department consistent with the standard numbering system for vessels set forth in volume 33, part 174, of the code of federal regulations.  A valid decal affixed as prescribed shall indicate compliance with the annual registration requirements of this chapter.

          The vessel registrations and decals are valid for a period of one year, except that the director of licensing may extend or diminish vessel registration periods, and the decals therefor, for the purpose of staggered renewal periods.    For registration periods of more or less than one year, the department ((may)) shall collect prorated annual registration fees and prorated excise taxes based upon the number of months in the registration period.  Vessel registrations are renewable every year in a manner prescribed by the department upon payment of the vessel registration fee and excise tax.  Upon renewing a vessel registration, the department shall issue a new decal to be affixed as prescribed by the department.

          A person acquiring a vessel from a dealer or a vessel already validly registered under this chapter shall, within fifteen days of the acquisition or purchase of the vessel, apply to the department or its authorized agent for transfer of the vessel registration, and the application shall be accompanied by a transfer fee of one dollar.