(625 ILCS 45/Art. IIIA heading)

(625 ILCS 45/3A-1) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 313A-1) Sec. 3A-1. Certificate of title required. (a) Every owner of a watercraft over 21 feet in length required to be numbered by this State and for which no certificate of title has been issued by the Department of Natural Resources shall make application to the Department of Natural Resources for a certificate of title either before or at the same time he next applies for issuance, transfer or renewal of a certificate of number. All watercraft already covered by a number in full force and effect which has been awarded to it pursuant to Federal law is exempt from titling requirements in this Act. (b) The Department shall not issue, transfer or renew a certificate of number unless a certificate of title has been issued by the Department of Natural Resources or an application for a certificate of title has been delivered to the Department. (Source: P.A. 100-469, eff. 6-1-18.)

(625 ILCS 45/3A-2) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 313A-2) Sec. 3A-2. Voluntary titling. The owner of any watercraft exempt from Section 3A-1(a) of this Act may apply to the Department of Natural Resources for a certificate of title by filing an application accompanied by the prescribed fee. Any owner exempt from this Act who obtains a certificate of title must also obtain a certificate of number as prescribed in Section 3-9 of this Act. (Source: P.A. 91-357, eff. 7-29-99.)

(625 ILCS 45/3A-3) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 313A-3) Sec. 3A-3. Application for first certificate of title. (a) The application for the first certificate of title in this State must be made by the owner to the Department of Natural Resources on the form prescribed and must contain: 1. The name, residence and mail address of the owner; 2. A description of the watercraft so far as the

following data exists: Its make, model, year of manufacture, manufacturer's serial number or builder's hull number, length and principal material used in construction;

3. The date of purchase by applicant, the name and

address of the person from whom the watercraft was acquired and the names and addresses of any lienholders in the order of their priority and the dates of their security agreements; and

4. Any further information the Department of Natural

Resources reasonably requires to identify the watercraft and to enable the Department to determine whether the owner is entitled to a certificate of title and the existence or nonexistence of security interests in the watercraft.

(b) If the application refers to a watercraft purchased from a dealer, it must contain the name and address of any lienholder holding a security interest created or reserved at the time of the sale and the date of his security agreement and be signed by the dealer as well as the owner, and the dealer must within 15 days mail or deliver the application to the Department of Natural Resources. (c) If the application refers to a watercraft last previously registered in another State or country, the application must contain or be accompanied by: 1. Any certificate of title issued by the other State

or country; and

2. Any other information and documents the Department

of Natural Resources reasonably requires to establish ownership and the existence or nonexistence of security interests.

(Source: P.A. 91-357, eff. 7-29-99.)

(625 ILCS 45/3A-4) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 313A-4) Sec. 3A-4. Examination of records. The Department of Natural Resources, upon receiving application for a first certificate of title, shall check the identifying description of the watercraft shown in the application against the records required to be maintained by Section 3A-5 of this Article and against the record of stolen and converted watercraft required to be maintained by Section 3A-6 of this Article. (Source: P.A. 89-445, eff. 2-7-96.)

(625 ILCS 45/3A-5) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 313A-5) Sec. 3A-5. Certificate of title - Issuance - Records. (a) The Department of Natural Resources shall file each application received and, when satisfied as to its genuineness and regularity, and that no tax imposed by the Use Tax Act or the Watercraft Use Tax Law is owed as evidenced by the receipt for payment or determination of exemption from the Department of Revenue provided for in Section 3A-3 of this Article, and that the applicant is entitled to the issuance of a certificate of title, shall issue a certificate of title. (b) The Department of Natural Resources shall maintain a record of all certificates of title issued under a distinctive title number assigned to the watercraft and, in the discretion of the Department, in any other method determined. (Source: P.A. 93-840, eff. 7-30-04.)

(625 ILCS 45/3A-6) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 313A-6) Sec. 3A-6. Stolen and recovered watercraft. (a) Every sheriff, superintendent of police, chief of police or other police officer in command of any police department in any city, village or town of the State shall, by the fastest means of communications available to his or her law enforcement agency, immediately report to the Department of State Police the theft or recovery of any stolen or converted watercraft within his or her district or jurisdiction. The report shall give the date of theft, description of the watercraft including color, manufacturer's trade name, manufacturer's series name, identification number and registration number, including the state in which the registration number was issued, together with the name, residence address, business address, and telephone number of the owner. The report shall be routed by the originating law enforcement agency through the State Police in a form and manner prescribed by the Department of State Police. (b) A registered owner or a lienholder may report the theft by conversion of a watercraft to the Department of State Police or any other police department or sheriff's office. The report will be accepted as a report of theft and processed only if a formal complaint is on file and a warrant issued. (c) The Department of State Police shall keep a complete record of all reports filed under this Section. Upon receipt of the report, a careful search shall be made of the records of the Department of State Police, and where it is found that a watercraft reported recovered was stolen in a county, city, village or town other than the county, city, village or town in which it is recovered, the recovering agency shall notify the reporting agency of the recovery in a form and manner prescribed by the Department of State Police. (d) Notification of the theft of a watercraft will be furnished to the Department of Natural Resources by the Department of State Police. The Department of Natural Resources shall place the proper information in the title registration files and in the certificate of number files to indicate the theft of a watercraft. Notification of the recovery of a watercraft previously reported as a theft or a conversion will be furnished to the Department of Natural Resources by the Department of State Police. The Department of Natural Resources shall remove the proper information from the certificate of number and title registration files that has previously indicated the theft of a watercraft. The Department of Natural Resources shall suspend the certificate of number of a watercraft upon receipt of a report that the watercraft was stolen. (e) When the Department of Natural Resources receives an application for a certificate of title or an application for a certificate of number of a watercraft and it is determined from the records that the watercraft has been reported stolen, the Department of Natural Resources, Division of Law Enforcement, shall immediately notify the State Police and shall give the State Police the name and address of the person or firm titling or registering the watercraft, together with all other information contained in the application submitted by the person or firm. (Source: P.A. 89-445, eff. 2-7-96.)

(625 ILCS 45/3A-7) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 313A-7) Sec. 3A-7. Contents and effect. (a) Each certificate of title issued by the Department of Natural Resources shall contain: 1. The date issued; 2. The name and address of the owner; 3. The names and addresses of any lienholders, in the

order of priority as shown on the application or, if the application is based on a certificate of title, as shown on the certificate;

4. The title number assigned to the watercraft; 5. A description of the watercraft including, so far

as the following data exists: its make, model, year of manufacture, registration number, and manufacturer's serial number or, if none, the builder's hull number, length, purchase date, and the principal material used in construction;

6. Any other data the Department of Natural Resources

prescribes.

(b) The certificate of title shall contain forms for assignment and warranty of title by the owner, and for assignment and warranty of title by a dealer, and may contain forms for applications for a certificate of title by a transferee, the naming of a lienholder and the assignment or release of the security interest of a lienholder. (c) A certificate of title issued by the Department of Natural Resources is prima facie evidence of the facts appearing on it. (d) A certificate of title is not subject to garnishment, attachment, execution or other judicial process, but this subsection does not prevent a lawful levy upon the watercraft. (e) Any certificate of title issued by the Department of Natural Resources is subject to a lien in favor of the State of Illinois for any fees or taxes required to be paid under this Act and as have not been paid, as provided for in this Act. (Source: P.A. 89-445, eff. 2-7-96.)

(625 ILCS 45/3A-8) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 313A-8) Sec. 3A-8. Presumption of tenancy. When a certificate of title is made out to a husband and wife with the marital relationship shown on the certificate, it shall be presumed that the title is held as joint tenants with right of survivorship. (Source: P.A. 81-1199.)

(625 ILCS 45/3A-9) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 313A-9) Sec. 3A-9. Delivery. The certificate of title shall be mailed to the first lienholder named in it or, if none, to the owner. (Source: P.A. 81-1199.)

(625 ILCS 45/3A-10) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 313A-10) Sec. 3A-10. Refusing certificate of title. The Department of Natural Resources shall refuse issuance of a certificate of title if any required fee is not paid or if he has reasonable grounds to believe that: (a) The applicant is not the owner of the watercraft; (b) The application contains a false or fraudulent statement; or (c) The applicant fails to furnish required information or documents or any additional information the Department of Natural Resources reasonably requires; (d) The applicant has not paid any fees or taxes due under this Act and have not been paid upon reasonable notice and demand. (Source: P.A. 89-445, eff. 2-7-96.)

(625 ILCS 45/3A-11) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 313A-11) Sec. 3A-11. Lost, stolen or mutilated certificates. (a) If a certificate of title is lost, stolen, mutilated or destroyed or becomes illegible, the first lienholder or, if none, the owner or legal representative of the owner named in the certificate, as shown by the records of the Department of Natural Resources, shall promptly make application for and may obtain a duplicate upon furnishing information satisfactory to the Department of Natural Resources. The duplicate certificate of title shall contain the legend "This is a duplicate certificate and may be subject to the rights of a person under the original certificate." It shall be mailed to the first lienholder named in it or, if none, to the owner. (b) The Department of Natural Resources shall not issue a duplicate certificate of title to any person within 15 days after the issuance of an original certificate of title to such person. (c) A person recovering an original certificate of title for which a duplicate has been issued shall promptly surrender the original certificate to the Department of Natural Resources. (Source: P.A. 89-445, eff. 2-7-96.)

(625 ILCS 45/3A-12) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 313A-12) Sec. 3A-12. Transfer. (a) If an owner transfers his interest in a watercraft other than by the creation of a security interest, he shall, at the time of the delivery, execute an assignment and warranty of title to the transferee in the space provided therefor on the certificate or as the Department of Natural Resources prescribes and cause the certificate and assignment to be mailed or delivered to the transferee or to the Department of Natural Resources. (b) Except as provided in Section 3A-14 of this Article, the transferee shall, promptly and within 15 days after delivery to him of the watercraft and the assigned title, execute the application for a new certificate of title in the space provided therefor on the certificate or as the Department of Natural Resources prescribes, and cause the certificate and application to be mailed or delivered to the Department of Natural Resources. (c) Upon request of the owner or transferee, a lienholder in possession of the certificate of title shall, unless the transfer was a breach of his security agreement, either deliver the certificate to the transferee for delivery to the Department of Natural Resources or, upon receipt from the transferee of the owner's assignment, the transferee's application for a new certificate and the required fee, mail or deliver them to the Department of Natural Resources. The delivery of the certificate does not affect the rights of the lienholder under his security agreement. (d) If a security interest is reserved or created at the time of the transfer, the certificate of title shall be retained by or delivered to the person who becomes the lienholder, and the parties shall comply with the provisions of Section 3B-3 of Article IIIB. (e) Except as provided in Section 3A-14 of this Article and as between the parties, a transfer by an owner is not effective until the provisions of this Section and Section 3A-16 of this Article have been complied with; however, an owner who has delivered possession of the watercraft to the transferee and has complied with the provisions of this Section and Section 3A-16 of this Article requiring action by him as not liable as owner for any damages thereafter resulting from operation of the watercraft. (f) The Department of Natural Resources may decline to process any application for a transfer of an interest in a watercraft if any fees or taxes due under this Act from the transferor or the transferee have not been paid upon reasonable notice and demand. (Source: P.A. 89-445, eff. 2-7-96.)

(625 ILCS 45/3A-13) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 313A-13) Sec. 3A-13. Transfer to or from dealer - Manufacturer's or Importer's Certificate. (a) No dealer shall purchase or acquire a new watercraft without obtaining from the seller thereof a manufacturer's or importer's certificate. (b) No manufacturer, importer, dealer or other person shall sell or otherwise dispose of a new watercraft to a dealer for purposes of display and resale, without delivering to such dealer a manufacturer's or importer's certificate. (Source: P.A. 81-1199.)

(625 ILCS 45/3A-14) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 313A-14) Sec. 3A-14. Transfer to or from dealer - Records. (a) If a dealer buys a watercraft and holds it for resale and procures the certificate of title from the owner or the lienholder within 10 days after delivery to him of the watercraft he need not send the certificate to the Department of Natural Resources but, upon transferring the watercraft to another person other than by the creation of a security interest, shall promptly and within 15 days execute the assignment and warranty of title by a dealer, showing the names and addresses of the transferee and of any lienholder holding a security interest created or reserved at the time of the resale and the date of his security agreement, in the spaces provided therefor on the certificate or as the Department of Natural Resources prescribes, and mail or deliver the certificate to the Department with the transferee's application for a new certificate. (b) Every dealer shall maintain for 3 years a record in the form the Department of Natural Resources prescribes of every watercraft bought, sold or exchanged by him, or received by him for sale or exchange, which shall be open to inspection by a representative of the Department of Natural Resources or peace officer during reasonable business hours. (c) The Department of Natural Resources may decline to process any application for a transfer of an interest in a watercraft if any fees or taxes due under this Act from the transferor or the transferee have not been paid upon reasonable notice and demand. (Source: P.A. 89-445, eff. 2-7-96.)

(625 ILCS 45/3A-15) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 313A-15) Sec. 3A-15. Transfer by operation of law. (a) If the interest of an owner in a watercraft passes to another other than by voluntary transfer, the transferee shall, except as provided in subsection (b), promptly mail or deliver within 15 days to the Department of Natural Resources the last certificate of title, if available, proof of the transfer, and his or her application for a new certificate in the form the Department prescribes. It shall be unlawful for any person having possession of a certificate of title for a watercraft by reason of his or her having a lien or encumbrance on such watercraft, to fail or refuse to deliver such certificate to the owner, upon the satisfaction or discharge of the lien or encumbrance, indicated upon such certificate of title. (b) If the interest of an owner in a watercraft passes to another under the provisions of the Small Estates provisions of the Probate Act of 1975, as amended, the transferee shall promptly mail or deliver to the Department of Natural Resources, within 120 days, the last certificate of title, if available, the documentation required under the provisions of the Probate Act of 1975, as amended, and an application for certificate of title. The transfer may be to the transferee or to the nominee of the transferee. (c) If the interest of an owner in a watercraft passes to another under other provisions of the Probate Act of 1975, as amended, and the transfer is made by an executor, administrator, or guardian for a person with a disability, such transferee shall promptly mail or deliver to the Department of Natural Resources, the last certificate of title, if available, and a certified copy of the letters testamentary, letters of administration or letters of guardianship, as the case may be, and an application for certificate of title. Such application shall be made before the estate is closed. The transfer may be to the transferee or to the nominee of the transferee. (d) If the interest of an owner in joint tenancy passes to the other joint tenant with survivorship rights as provided by law, the transferee shall promptly mail or deliver to the Department of Natural Resources, the last certificate of title, if available, proof of death of the one joint tenant and survivorship of the surviving joint tenant, and an application for certificate of title. Such application shall be made within 120 days after the death of the joint tenant. The transfer may be to the transferee or to the nominee of the transferee. (e) If the interest of the owner is terminated or the watercraft is sold under a security agreement by a lienholder named in the certificate of title, the transferee shall promptly mail or deliver within 15 days to the Department of Natural Resources the last certificate of title, his or her application for a new certificate in the form the Department prescribes, and an affidavit made by or on behalf of the lienholder that the watercraft was repossessed and that the interest of the owner was lawfully terminated or sold pursuant to the terms of the security agreement. In all cases wherein a lienholder has found it necessary to repossess a watercraft and desires to obtain certificate of title for such watercraft in the name of such lienholder, the Department of Natural Resources shall not issue a certificate of title to such lienholder unless the person from whom such watercraft has been repossessed, is shown to be the last registered owner of such watercraft and such lienholder establishes to the satisfaction of the Department that he or she is entitled to such certificate of title. (f) A person holding a certificate of title whose interest in the watercraft has been extinguished or transferred other than by voluntary transfer shall mail or deliver the certificate within 15 days upon request of the Department of Natural Resources. The delivery of the certificate pursuant to the request of the Department of Natural Resources does not affect the rights of the person surrendering the certificate, and the action of the Department in issuing a new certificate of title as provided herein is not conclusive upon the rights of an owner or lienholder named in the old certificate. (g) The Department of Natural Resources may decline to process any application for a transfer of an interest hereunder if any fees or taxes due under this Act from the transferor or the transferee have not been paid upon reasonable notice and demand. (h) The Department of Natural Resources shall not be held civilly or criminally liable to any person because any purported transferor may not have had the power or authority to make a transfer of any interest in any watercraft. (Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)

(625 ILCS 45/3A-16) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 313A-16) Sec. 3A-16. Fees. Fees shall be paid according to the following schedule:

Certificate of title.............

$10

Duplicate certificate of title......

7

Corrected certificate of title......

7

Search......................

7

(Source: P.A. 97-1136, eff. 1-1-13.)

(625 ILCS 45/3A-17) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 313A-17) Sec. 3A-17. Transfer of watercraft. A transferor of a watercraft other than a dealer transferring a new watercraft, shall deliver to the transferee at the time of delivery of possession of the watercraft the properly assigned certificate of title. (Source: P.A. 85-149.)

(625 ILCS 45/3A-18) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 313A-18) Sec. 3A-18. Transfer or surrender of certificate of title. (a) The Department of Natural Resources, upon receipt of a properly assigned certificate of title, with an application for a new certificate of title, the required fee and any other documents required by law, shall issue a new certificate of title in the name of the transferee as owner and mail it to the first lienholder named in it or, if none, to the owner. (b) The Department of Natural Resources, upon receipt of an application for a new certificate of title by a transferee other than by voluntary transfer, with proof of the transfer, the required fee and any other documents required by law, shall issue a new certificate of title in the name of the transferee as owner. If the outstanding certificate of title is not delivered to him, the Department shall make demand therefor from the holder thereof. (c) The Department of Natural Resources shall file and retain for 4 years every surrendered Illinois certificate of title, the file to be maintained so as to permit the tracing of title of the watercraft designated therein. (Source: P.A. 89-445, eff. 2-7-96.)

(625 ILCS 45/3A-19) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 313A-19) Sec. 3A-19. Scrapping, junking or destroying a watercraft. An owner who scraps, junks or destroys a watercraft, or a person who purchases a watercraft as scrap or as a watercraft to be junked or destroyed shall immediately cause the certificate of title to be mailed or delivered to the Department of Natural Resources, and a certificate of title shall not again be issued for such watercraft. Upon receipt of the certificate of title, the Department shall cancel the certificate. (Source: P.A. 89-445, eff. 2-7-96.)

(625 ILCS 45/3A-20) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 313A-20) Sec. 3A-20. Offenses relating to titling; misdemeanors. Violation of any of the following provisions shall constitute a Class A misdemeanor: (a) No person shall operate in this State a watercraft for which a certificate of title is required without having such certificate of title. (b) No person shall sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of a watercraft without delivering to the purchaser or transferee a certificate of title, or a manufacturer's or importer's certificate, assigned to such purchaser or transferee as required by this Act. (c) No person shall fail to surrender to the Department of Natural Resources any certificate of title upon cancellation of the same by the Department for any valid reason set forth in this Act or regulations adopted pursuant thereto. (Source: P.A. 88-524; 89-445, eff. 2-7-96.)

(625 ILCS 45/3A-21) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 313A-21) Sec. 3A-21. Offenses relating to titling; felonies. Violation of any of the following provisions shall constitute a Class 2 felony: (a) No person shall alter, forge or counterfeit any certificate of title or a manufacturer's or importer's certificate to a watercraft. (b) No person shall alter or falsify any assignment of a certificate of title, or an assignment or cancellation of a security interest on a certificate of title to a watercraft. (c) No person shall hold or use a certificate of title to a watercraft nor hold or use any assignment or cancellation of a security interest on a certificate of title to a watercraft, knowing it to have been altered, forged, counterfeited or falsified. (d) No person shall use a false or fictitious name or address, or make any material false statement, or conceal any material fact, in an application for a certificate of title, or in a bill of sale or sworn statement of ownership. (e) No person shall procure or attempt to procure a certificate of title to a watercraft, or pass or attempt to pass a certificate of title or any assignment thereof to a watercraft, knowing or having reason to believe that such watercraft has been stolen. (f) No person shall have possession of, buy, receive, sell or offer to sell, or otherwise dispose of a watercraft on which the manufacturer's or assigned serial number of the watercraft has been destroyed, removed, covered, altered, or defaced, knowing of such destruction, removal, covering, alteration or defacement of such manufacturer's or assigned serial number. (g) No person shall destroy, remove, cover, alter or deface the manufacturer's or assigned serial number on any watercraft. (h) No person shall possess, buy, sell, exchange or give away, or offer to buy, sell, exchange, or give away the certificate of title to any watercraft which is a junk or salvage. (Source: P.A. 88-524.)