(a) The interest of any registered owner of a vessel that has been used in the commission of a violation of subdivision (b) of Section 655 for which the owner was convicted and the conduct resulted in the unlawful killing of a person is subject to impoundment as provided in this section. Upon conviction, the court may order the vessel impounded at the registered owner’s expense for a period of not less than one nor more than 30 days.

(b) For purposes of this section, the court may consider in the interest of justice factors such as whether the impoundment of the vessel would result in the loss of employment of the registered owner of the vessel who committed the violation, or a member of the registered owner’s family, the loss of the vessel resulting from the inability to pay impoundment fees, unfair infringement upon community property rights, or other factors the court finds to be relevant.

(c) For purposes of this section, “vessel” means every watercraft used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on the waters of the state, including all boats, motorboats, personal watercraft, recreational vessels, and unregistered vehicles, except for foreign and domestic vessels engaged in interstate or foreign commerce upon the waters of the state.

(d) A marina owner in possession of an impounded vessel pursuant to this section is not liable for damage to the vessel while the vessel is being impounded by the court, except for damage caused by the marina owner’s acts or omissions constituting gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct.

(Added by Stats. 2019, Ch. 644, Sec. 1. (SB 393) Effective January 1, 2020.)