1. A person shall not abandon a vessel upon a public waterway or public or private property without the consent of the owner or person in lawful possession or control of the property.

2. The abandonment of any vessel in a manner prohibited by subsection 1 is prima facie evidence that the last registered owner of record, unless the registered owner has notified the Department or other appropriate agency of his or her relinquishment of title or interest therein, is responsible for the abandonment. The person so responsible is liable for the cost of removal and disposition of the vessel.

3. A game warden, sheriff or other peace officer of this state may remove a vessel from a public waterway when:

(a) The vessel is left unattended and is adrift, moored, docked, beached or made fast to land in such a position as to interfere with navigation or in such a condition as to create a hazard to other vessels using the waterway, to public safety or to the property of another.

(b) The vessel is found upon a waterway and a report has previously been made that the vessel has been stolen or embezzled.

(c) The person in charge of the vessel is by reason of physical injuries or illness incapacitated to such an extent as to be unable to provide for its custody or removal.

(d) An officer arrests a person operating or in control of the vessel for an alleged offense, and the officer is required or permitted to take, and does take, the person arrested before a magistrate without unnecessary delay.

(e) The vessel seriously interferes with navigation or otherwise poses a critical and immediate danger to navigation or to the public health, safety or welfare.

(Added to NRS by 1993, 221; A 2003, 1575)