§ 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.