Brief Description: Decriminalizing vessel registration violations.

Sponsors: By Representatives Kretz, Blake, Ahern, Buri, Ericks, Serben, DeBolt, Schindler, Kristiansen, Condotta, Orcutt, Strow, Cox, Buck and Armstrong.

House Committee on Natural Resources, Ecology & Parks
Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Ocean & Recreation

Background:

The vessel registration chapter covers recreational vessel registration and includes statutes governing related subjects. A vessel is defined as every watercraft used, or capable of being used, as a means of transportation on the water, other than a seaplane.

Generally, no person may own or operate any vessel unless the vessel is registered and displays the proper documentation. There are certain exceptions such as vessels under 16 feet in length with no propulsion machinery or with machinery of ten or less horsepower and human-powered vessels. A person must produce proper vessel documentation when asked by law enforcement.

Except those violations specifically exempted, a violation of the vessel registration chapter constitutes a misdemeanor offense punishable only by the following fines:

• up to $100 per vessel for the first offense;
• $200 per vessel for the second offense in the same year; and
• $400 per vessel for the third and subsequent offenses in the same year.

The maximum penalty and default amount for a class 2 civil infraction is $125. After the assessment of public safety and education fees and the subtraction of court fees, the remainder of the fine is given to the general fund of the jurisdiction issuing the infraction.

Summary:

The violations under the vessel registration chapter for failing to register and failing to produce registration when asked are changed from misdemeanor offenses to class 2 civil infractions.

Votes on Final Passage:

House   98   0
Senate   43   0

Effective: June 7, 2006