Vessel registration is required under this
chapter except for the following:
(1) Military or public vessels of the United States, except
recreational-type public vessels;
(2) Vessels owned by a state or subdivision thereof, used
principally for governmental purposes and clearly identifiable as
such;
(3) Vessels either (a) registered or numbered under the laws
of a country other than the United States; or (b) having a valid
United States customs service cruising license issued pursuant to
19 C.F.R. Sec. 4.94. On or before the sixty-first day of use in
the state, any vessel in the state under this subsection shall
obtain an identification document from the department of
licensing, its agents, or subagents indicating when the vessel
first came into the state. At the time of any issuance of an
identification document, a thirty dollar identification document
fee shall be paid by the vessel owner to the department of
licensing for the cost of providing the identification document
by the department of licensing. Five dollars from each such
transaction must be deposited in the derelict vessel removal
account created in RCW 79.100.100. Any moneys remaining from the
fee after the payment of costs and the deposit to the derelict
vessel removal account shall be allocated to counties by the
state treasurer for approved boating safety programs under RCW 88.02.045. The department of licensing shall adopt rules to
implement its duties under this subsection, including issuing and
displaying the identification document and collecting the thirty
dollar fee;
(4) Vessels that have been issued a valid number under
federal law or by an approved issuing authority of the state of
principal operation. However, a vessel that is validly
registered in another state but that is removed to this state for
principal use is subject to registration under this chapter. The
issuing authority for this state shall recognize the validity of
the numbers previously issued for a period of sixty days after
arrival in this state;
(5) Vessels owned by a nonresident if the vessel is located
upon the waters of this state exclusively for repairs,
alteration, or reconstruction, or any testing related to the
repair, alteration, or reconstruction conducted in this state if
an employee of the repair, alteration, or construction facility
is on board the vessel during any testing. However, any vessel
owned by a nonresident is located upon the waters of this state
exclusively for repairs, alteration, reconstruction, or testing
for a period longer than sixty days, that the nonresident shall
file an affidavit with the department of revenue verifying the
vessel is located upon the waters of this state for repair,
alteration, reconstruction, or testing and shall continue to file
such affidavit every sixty days thereafter, while the vessel is
located upon the waters of this state exclusively for repairs,
alteration, reconstruction, or testing;
(6) Vessels equipped with propulsion machinery of less than
ten horsepower that:
(a) Are owned by the owner of a vessel for which a valid
vessel number has been issued;
(b) Display the number of that numbered vessel followed by
the suffix "1" in the manner prescribed by the department; and
(c) Are used as a tender for direct transportation between
that vessel and the shore and for no other purpose;
(7) Vessels under sixteen feet in overall length which have
no propulsion machinery of any type or which are not used on
waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States or on the
high seas beyond the territorial seas for vessels owned in the
United States and are powered by propulsion machinery of ten or
less horsepower;
(8) Vessels with no propulsion machinery of any type for
which the primary mode of propulsion is human power;
(9) Vessels primarily engaged in commerce which have or are
required to have a valid marine document as a vessel of the
United States. Commercial vessels which the department of
revenue determines have the external appearance of vessels which
would otherwise be required to register under this chapter, must
display decals issued annually by the department of revenue that
indicate the vessel's exempt status;
(10) Vessels primarily engaged in commerce which are owned
by a resident of a country other than the United States;
(11) Vessels owned by a nonresident individual brought into
the state for his or her use or enjoyment while temporarily
within the state for not more than six months in any continuous
twelve-month period, unless the vessel is used in conducting a
nontransitory business activity within the state. However, the
vessel must have been issued a valid number under federal law or
by an approved issuing authority of the state of principal
operation. On or before the sixty-first day of use in the state,
any vessel temporarily in the state under this subsection shall
obtain an identification document from the department of
licensing, its agents, or subagents indicating when the vessel
first came into the state. An identification document shall be
valid for a period of two months. At the time of any issuance of
an identification document, a twenty-five dollar identification
document fee shall be paid by the vessel owner to the department
of licensing for the cost of providing the identification
document by the department of licensing. Any moneys remaining
from the fee after payment of costs shall be allocated to
counties by the state treasurer for approved boating safety
programs under RCW 88.02.045. The department of licensing shall
adopt rules to implement its duties under this subsection,
including issuing and displaying the identification document and
collecting the twenty-five dollar fee; and
(12) Vessels used in this state by a nonresident individual
possessing a valid use permit issued under RCW 82.08.700 or 82.12.700.
[2007 c 22 § 3; 2002 c 286 § 12; 1998 c 198 § 1; 1997 c 83 § 1; 1991 c 339 § 30. Prior: 1989 c 393 § 13; 1989 c 102 § 1; 1985 c 452 § 1; 1984 c 250 § 2; 1983 2nd ex.s. c 3 § 44; 1983 c 7 § 16.]
NOTES:
Effective date -- 2007 c 22: See note following RCW 82.08.700.
Severability -- Effective date -- 2002 c 286: See RCW 79.100.900 and 79.100.901.
Effective date -- 1998 c 198: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately [March 27, 1998]." [1998 c 198 § 2.]
Effective date -- 1985 c 452: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1, 1985." [1985 c 452 § 2.]
Construction -- Severability -- Effective dates -- 1983 2nd ex.s. c 3: See notes following RCW 82.04.255.
Commission to adopt rules: RCW 79A.60.595.
Partial exemption from ad valorem taxes of ships and vessels exempt from excise tax under RCW 88.02.030(9): RCW 84.36.080.