41-13-104. Application for certificate; issuance of certificate and assignment of number; conformity with federal numbering system; expiration and renewal of certificate; transfer of ownership; duplicate certificate; manufacturer and dealer certificates.

(a) The owner of each motorboat requiring numbering by this state shall apply for a number with the department or any place selling game and fish licenses on forms approved by the department. The application shall be signed by the owner and accompanied by the fee required by W.S. 41-13-109. At the time of application, the applicant shall also present proof in a form approved by the department of revenue that all sales or use tax due on the motorboat have been paid. Any person who knowingly presents a false or fraudulent statement of proof is subject to the provisions of W.S. 6-5-303, in addition to any penalties and interest due for nonpayment of sales or use tax on the motorboat. Upon receipt of the application in approved form the department shall issue to the applicant a certificate of number stating the number awarded to the motorboat and the name and address of the owner. The owner shall paint on or attach to each side of the bow of the motorboat the identification number in such manner as may be prescribed by rules and regulations of the commission in order that it may be completely visible. The number shall be maintained in legible condition. The certificate of number shall be pocket size and shall be available at all times for inspection on the motorboat for which issued, wherever the motorboat is operated. If any motorboat is rented for less than one (1) day, the owner or his designee may retain the certificate of number on shore if the certificate is readily available for inspection.

(b) The owner of any motorboat for which a current certificate of number has been issued pursuant to any federal law or a federally approved numbering system of another state shall, if the motorboat remains in this state in excess of ninety (90) consecutive days and is operated on the waters of this state at any time during this ninety (90) day period, apply for a certificate of number in the manner prescribed in subsection (a) of this section.

(c) In the event that an agency of the United States government shall have in force an overall system of identification numbering for motorboats within the United States, the numbering system employed pursuant to this act by the department shall be in conformity therewith.

(d) The department may award any certificate of number directly or through authorized agents. Numbers and certificates awarded by authorized agents in conformity with this act and with rules and regulations of the commission are valid as if awarded directly by the department.

(e) All records of the department made or kept pursuant to this section shall be public records.

(f) Each certificate of number issued under this act expires on December 31 of the last year of valid registration under the certificate unless sooner terminated or discontinued under this act. A duplicate number may be obtained by an owner upon application to the department, which may require payment of a fee of not more than ten dollars ($10.00). Certificates of number may be renewed by the owner in the same manner provided under this act for obtaining initial certification.

(g) The owner of any motorboat shall within fifteen (15) days notify the department if such motorboat is destroyed or abandoned, or if his address no longer conforms to the address appearing on the certificate of number. In all such cases, the notice shall be accompanied by a surrender of the certificate of number. When the surrender of the certificate is by reason of the motorboat being destroyed or abandoned, the department shall cancel the certificate and enter such fact in its records. If the surrender is by reason of a change of address on the part of the owner, the new address shall be endorsed on the certificate and the latter returned to the owner.

(h) The purchaser of a motorboat may operate the motorboat for thirty (30) calendar days from the date of purchase without a new certificate of number if upon demand by a person authorized to enforce this act, the new owner can furnish proof of ownership and the date the motorboat was acquired. Upon transfer of ownership of a motorboat, the current certificate of number may be transferred to the new owner upon application to the department. Application by the new owner shall include his name, address and the certificate of number of the motorboat, together with payment of the registration fee prescribed by W.S. 41-13-109 and presentation of proof of transfer. Upon receipt of application and fee, the department shall transfer the certificate of number issued for the motorboat to the new owner. Unless the application is made and fee paid within thirty (30) days, the motorboat is without certificate of number and no person shall operate the motorboat until a certificate is issued.

(j) No number other than the number awarded to a motorboat or granted reciprocity pursuant to this act shall be painted, attached, or otherwise displayed on either side of the bow of such motorboat.

(k) If any certificate of number is lost, mutilated or becomes illegible, the owner of the motorboat for which the certificate was issued may obtain a duplicate certificate upon application to the department. The department may set and collect payment of a fee for a duplicate certificate not to exceed ten dollars ($10.00).

(m) A person engaged in the manufacture or sale of motorboats may, upon application to the department in the manner and on forms prescribed by rule and regulation, obtain certificates of number for use in the testing or demonstrating of these motorboats. The fee for each registration under this subsection shall be thirty dollars ($30.00). The numbers assigned by certificates of number issued under this subsection shall be temporarily placed on the watercraft to be tested or demonstrated.