3042

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 589

The Department, by rule or regulation, for the period it
prescribes may exempt any vessel or class of vessels from the
numbering provisions of this subtitle if the vessel or class of
vessels is exempted from the federal numbering requirements by
statute, or rule or regulation.

(b)  The owner of any vessel to be numbered by this subtitle
shall file an application for a certificate of number with the
Department. The application is on forms the Department approves,
accompanied by the requisite fee, and signed by every vessel
owner.

(c)  (1) The annual fee for each certificate of boat number
is $12 for the calendar year in which the certificate is issued.
However, any vessel 16 feet in length, or less, equipped with a 7
1/2 horsepower motor, or less, is exempt from this fee. The fee
to replace a lost, destroyed, or corrected certificate is $2. The
Department shall record any transaction or transfer of numbered
boats. It may record any amount of money owing on a vessel
required to be numbered at the time of sale. The Department may
not effect a transfer of ownership until the amount of money owed
as shown on the records of the Department is fully paid or
recorded on the new title. Any vessel that is required to be
numbered under this section that is exempt prior to January 1,
1974, shall be exempt from payment of this title tax.

(2) Emergency rescue boats that belong to fire
departments or rescue squads in Maryland shall be exempt from all
registration fees, but shall apply for a registration renewal
every 3 years.

(d)  Upon receipt of the application in approved form, the
Department shall issue to the applicant a certificate of boat
number which shall contain the boat number issued to the vessel
and additional information the Department prescribes by rule or
regulation. The certificate of boat number shall be pocket size
and shall be available for inspection when the vessel is in use.
The owner shall paint on or attach the boat number to each side
of the forward half of the vessel's hull or superstructure for
which it is issued, displaying it in the manner required by the
Department rules or regulations and maintaining it in legible
condition.

(e)   If a vessel required to be numbered under this subtitle
is sold, transferred, abandoned, lost, stolen, or destroyed, its
certificate expires at the time of the sale, transfer,
abandonment, loss, theft, or destruction and then is invalid.

(f)  There is a $5 service charge for every check returned
unpaid.

(g)  Each year the Department shall inform each holder of a
certificate of boat number of the manner in which the boat owner
may obtain a current copy of the U. S. Coast Guard rules and
regulations applicable to the type of boat registered under his
boat number.