A. It shall be unlawful to abandon a vessel on the waters of this state or other public property. Any officer of the Department of Public Safety or any other law enforcement agency shall deem a vessel abandoned and shall have authority to remove or direct the removal of a vessel when found upon any portion of the waters of this state or other public property, if, after a period of forty-eight (48) hours, there is no evidence of an apparent owner who intends to remove the vessel. Any law enforcement officer prior to removing such vessel shall attempt to notify the owner of such vessel if the vessel has an identification number registered in this state or if the name and address of the owner is attached to such vessel.

B. If such officer has reasonable cause to believe a vessel has been abandoned in a location which would be hazardous to the free flow of traffic or would be highly susceptible to damage from vandalism or other harm, he shall have authority to remove or direct the removal of the vessel immediately. At the time of ordering the removal of an abandoned vessel, the authorizing officer shall also determine the sale value of the vessel and certify that amount on the removal order.

C. Any officer of the Department of Public Safety is hereby authorized to cause to be removed any vessel found upon the waters of this state or any other public property when:

1. Report has been made that such vessel has been stolen or taken without the consent of its owner;

2. The officer has reason to believe the vessel has been abandoned as defined in this section;

3. The person operating or in control of such vessel is arrested for an alleged offense for which the officer is required by law to take the person arrested or summoned before a proper magistrate without unnecessary delay;

4. At the scene of an accident, when the owner or operator is not in a position to take charge of his vessel and direct or request proper removal; or

5. When a vessel and/or motor registration is thirty (30) days past the date of expiration.

Such officer may ensure the safe removal of said vessel by use of a trailer.

Added by Laws 1989, c. 346, § 69, emerg. eff. June 3, 1989. Amended by Laws 1992, c. 284, § 56, eff. Jan. 1, 1993; Laws 2002, c. 66, § 3.