A. Every motorboat which is propelled by sail or machinery operating on the waters of this state shall be numbered. No person shall operate or give permission for the operation of any motorboat on the waters of this state unless the motorboat is numbered in accordance with the Boat Act or in accordance with applicable federal law or in accordance with a federally approved numbering system of another state and unless the certificate of number awarded to the motorboat is in force and the identifying number set forth in the certificate of number is displayed on each side of the bow of the motorboat.

B. Every boat operating on the waters of this state and owned by a person who is domiciled in this state shall be titled. No person shall operate or give permission for the operation of any boat on the waters of this state unless the boat is titled as provided in the Boat Act.

C. A person who is not domiciled in this state but who operates a boat on the waters of this state may, pursuant to the provisions of the Boat Act, elect to register the boat in this state.

History: 1953 Comp., § 75-35-4, enacted by Laws 1959, ch. 338, § 4; 1963, ch. 45, § 1; 1965, ch. 16, § 2; 1987, ch. 247, § 6; 2000, ch. 34, § 1.

Cross references. — For exemptions from numbering provisions of the act, see 66-12-8 NMSA 1978.

The 2000 amendment, effective May 17, 2000, added Subsection C.

The 1987 amendment, effective July 1, 1987, designated the existing provisions as Subsection A, while making a minor stylistic change in the second sentence thereof, and added Subsection B.