2253 - Certificates of registration, registration numbers, and validating stickers.

§ 2253. Certificates   of   registration,  registration  numbers,  and  validating stickers. 1. Issuance. Upon the approval  of  an  application  for registration and payment of the fee as provided in this article, the  commissioner  shall  assign  to  a  vessel  a  registration number, and,  without further  expense  to  the  applicant,  issue  a  certificate  of  registration  and, effective April first, nineteen hundred eighty-six, a  validating  sticker  or  stickers,  in  such  manner  and  form  as  the  commissioner shall prescribe.    2. Certificate of registration. The certificate of registration issued  by  the  commissioner  shall be available at all times for inspection on  the vessel for which it is issued whenever such vessel is in  operation,  unless  otherwise  provided by a rule or regulation of the commissioner.  Every person operating a vessel shall, upon demand of any peace officer,  federal officer or other person having  the  authority  to  enforce  the  provisions  of this chapter, produce the certificate of registration for  inspection. The failure to produce the certificate of  registration,  as  provided  herein,  shall  not  be  an  offense, but shall be presumptive  evidence of operating a vessel which is not registered  as  required  by  this article.    3. Registration number. A registration number once assigned under this  section  shall  remain  with  the  vessel until the vessel is destroyed,  abandoned or permanently removed from the state,  or  until  changed  or  terminated  by the commissioner. The registration number assigned to the  vessel shall be painted on or attached to each side of the forward  half  of  the  vessel  by the owner in such a position as to be displayed in a  conspicuous manner with figures and letters at  least  three  inches  in  height.  The  registration  number  shall  be  maintained  in  a legible  condition so that the figures and letters are readily discernible during  daylight hours at a distance of one hundred feet. No other number  shall  be  carried  on  the  forward  half  of such vessel. Notwithstanding the  foregoing provisions of this subdivision, a vessel having a valid marine  document issued by the United States or a foreign government  shall  not  be required to display its assigned registration number on the vessel.    4.  Validating  stickers.  Effective  April  first,  nineteen  hundred  eighty-six, at the time of the original registration and at the time  of  each  renewal  thereof,  the  commissioner  shall  also  issue  to  said  registrant a validating sticker or stickers indicating the  validity  of  the   current  registration  and  the  expiration  date  thereof,  which  validating sticker or stickers shall be affixed to the  vessel  in  such  manner  as  the commissioner may prescribe provided, however, that where  the hull of a vessel equipped with a windshield is constructed of  wood,  such  validating sticker or stickers may be affixed to the windshield of  the vessel. From that time and notwithstanding the fact  that  a  vessel  has  been  assigned a registration number, it shall not be considered as  validly  registered  within  the  meaning  of  this  article  unless   a  validating  sticker  and  current  registration  certificate  have  been  issued. In addition, the commissioner may issue a validating sticker  or  stickers  to the holder of a certificate of registration issued prior to  April first, nineteen hundred eighty-six, without further expense to the  holder, indicating the validity of  the  current  registration  and  the  expiration  date  thereof, which validating sticker or stickers shall be  affixed to  the  vessel  in  such  a  manner  as  the  commissioner  may  prescribe. The commissioner shall establish by regulation such terms and  conditions  as  may  be  necessary  to  accomplish  the issuance of such  validating sticker or stickers and the date upon  which  their  issuance  shall be completed. From thirty days after such date and notwithstanding  the fact that a vessel has been assigned a registration number and has a  current  certificate  of  registration,  it  shall  not be considered asvalidly  registered  within  the  meaning  of  this  article  unless   a  validating sticker or stickers is displayed on the vessel.