FINAL BILL REPORT

SSB 6120

C 114 L 16

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Providing a registration exemption for certain vessels.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senator Mullet).

Senate Committee on Transportation

House Committee on Transportation

Background: State law defines a vessel as watercraft, other than seaplanes, used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on the water.

Vessel registration. Within the first 60 days of use in Washington State waters, a vessel must be registered at the Department of Licensing, a county auditor's office, or a licensing subagent's office. Exemptions may be made if the vessel:

• is owned by the United States military;

• is a non-recreation public vessel owned by the United States government;

• is used by a government entity - state, county, city - and is for a government purpose;

• is registered in another country or another state;

• is a valid cruise ship visiting less than 60 days;

• primarily resides in another state and is in state waters for less than 60 days;

• is owned by a non-resident and is in this state for repairs and other services;

• is equipped with a motor of less than 10 horsepower and serves as an additional vessel to a "numbered" registered vessel;

• is less than 16 feet in length and: has no propulsion machinery, is not used in United States waters, or is used beyond territorial waters with a motor of less than 10 horsepower;

• is without propulsion machinery except for human power;

• is a commercial vessel already registered with the Department of Revenue (DOR) or is a foreign commercial vessel; or

• is being sold by a licensed dealer.

Summary: An exemption is added to the vessel registration requirement for vessels with motors that draw 250 watts or less that propel the vessel no faster than 10 miles per hour and 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.

Votes on Final Passage: