A. 1. The Oklahoma Tax Commission shall, and each federally recognized Indian tribe of this state may, develop and implement a permanent number system for vessels which is consistent with United States Coast Guard statutes and regulations. The system shall be effective upon the effective date of this act.

2. Except as otherwise provided by this section, every vessel on the waters of this state shall display the permanent number assigned to it by the Tax Commission or by a federally recognized Indian tribe of this state, which number shall not be obliterated, erased, mutilated, removed or missing.

3. In order to ensure that:

a.a permanent number issued by a federally recognized Indian tribe of this state conforms to federal statutory and regulatory requirements of the United States Coast Guard, and

b.the rights prescribed in paragraph 2 of this subsection are extended to every federally recognized Indian tribe of this state,

every vessel on the waters of this state assigned a permanent number by a federally recognized Indian tribe of this state which issues permanent numbers shall be recorded and maintained by the Tax Commission in the same manner as the Tax Commission records and maintains the permanent number of vessels on the waters of this state which are assigned by the Tax Commission.

B. The vessels authorized to display a number other than that required by the provisions of the Oklahoma Vessel and Motor Registration Act are:

1. A documented vessel, provided that such vessel is currently registered, is displaying both current registration decals, and the name, hailing port and official federal documentation number assigned to it are displayed on the vessel according to federal law or federal rules and regulations;

2. A vessel from a country other than the United States temporarily using the waters of this state;

3. A vessel from another state owned by an out-of-state resident using the waters of this state;

4. A vessel whose owner is the United States, a state or a subdivision thereof; provided, however, if such vessel is used for recreational or rental purposes on the public waters of this state, that vessel shall display the permanent number assigned to it by the Tax Commission;

5. A vessel that is used exclusively and solely for racing purposes;

6. A vessel that is used exclusively and solely as a lifeboat; and

7. A commercial flotation device which is assigned a permit by the Scenic Rivers Commission pursuant to the provisions of Sections 1461 et seq. of Title 82 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

C. Except as otherwise provided for in this section, every vessel and every outboard motor on the waters of this state shall display the current registration decals or decal assigned to it by the Tax Commission. The outboard motor registration decal shall be affixed to the upper portion of the motor cowling in such a manner that approximately one-half (1/2) of the decal is displayed on the left side of the motor cowling extending toward the rear of the motor cowling. Vessel registration decals shall be:

1. Affixed on each side of the forward half of the vessel; and

2. In line with and within six (6) inches aft of the permanent number.

D. The owner of any vessel issued a permanent number pursuant to the provisions of the Oklahoma Vessel and Motor Registration Act, Section 4002 et seq. of this title, shall place on or attach to the vessel the permanent number in such manner that it may be clearly visible. The permanent number shall:

1. Be maintained in legible condition;

2. Be painted, applied as a decal, or otherwise affixed to each side of the forward half of the vessel in contrasting color to the background, as high above the waterline as is practical;

3. Read from left to right;

4. Be comprised of numbers and letters printed in block style of at least three (3) inches in height and one-half (1/2) inch in stroke width; and

5. Have spaces or hyphens that are equal to the width of a letter other than "I" or a number other than "1" between the letter and number groupings.

No other similar numbers shall be displayed on either side of the forward half of the vessel.

E. The provisions of this section shall not apply to sailboards or fishing tubes.

F. The Tax Commission shall adopt rules for the placement of the registration decal in an alternate location for antique boats. In this subsection, "antique boat" means a boat that:

1. Is used primarily for recreational purposes; and

2. Was manufactured before 1968.

Such rules shall allow vessels registered as antique boats to display the registration decal on the left portion of the windshield. In the absence of a windshield, the rules shall allow operators of antique boats to attach the registration decal to the certificate of registration and make such decal and certificate available for inspection when the boat is operated on public water.

Added by Laws 1989, c. 346, § 30, eff. Jan. 1, 1990. Amended by Laws 1990, c. 304, § 5, emerg. eff. May 30, 1990; Laws 1992, c. 284, § 15, eff. Jan. 1, 1993; Laws 1994, c. 152, § 2, eff. July 1, 1994; Laws 1997, c. 199, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 1997; Laws 1999, c. 332, § 5, eff. Nov. 1, 1999; Laws 2003, c. 34, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2003; Laws 2003, c. 393, § 2, emerg. eff. June 4, 2003; Laws 2004, c. 379, § 5, eff. Nov. 1, 2004; Laws 2005, c. 1, § 102, emerg. eff. March 15, 2005; Laws 2008, c. 59, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2008.

NOTE: Laws 2004, c. 364, § 2 repealed by Laws 2005, c. 1, § 103, emerg. eff. March 15, 2005.