Ch. 434                                        1994 LAWS OF MARYLAND

(iv) A vessel used for public service and owned by the United States
government, another state, or any political subdivision;

(v) A ship's lifeboat;

(vi) A vessel propelled only by sail;

(vii) A vessel numbered according to the Federal Boat Safety Act of
1971; or

(viii) A vessel manually propelled.

(2) The Department, by regulation, for the period the Department
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.]
CERTIFICATES OF NUMBER ISSUED UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL BE VALID FOR A
PERIOD NOT TO EXCEED 2 YEARS. THE OWNER OF THE VESSEL MAY APPLY EVERY
OTHER YEAR FOR RENEWAL OF THE CERTIFICATE. THE RENEWED CERTIFICATE
SHALL EXPIRE ON DECEMBER 31 OF THE CALENDAR YEAR FOLLOWING THE YEAR
THE CERTIFICATE IS ISSUED. THE FEE FOR A 2-YEAR CERTIFICATE FOR VESSELS
THAT ARE LESS THAN 16 FEET IN LENGTH IS $10. THE FEE FOR VESSELS THAT ARE 16
FEET IN LENGTH OR GREATER IS $24. IS $24. VESSELS 16 FEET IN LENGTH OR LESS
AND EQUIPPED WITH A 7 1/2 HORSEPOWER MOTOR OR LESS ARE 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. The Department 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:

(i) Shall be exempt from all registration fees; but

(ii) 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 regulation. The
certificate of boat number shall [be pocket size and shall] be available for inspection

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