§ 75A-7. Exemption from numbering requirements.
§ 75A‑7. Exemption fromnumbering requirements.
(a) A vessel shall notbe required to be numbered under this Chapter if it is:
(1) A vessel that isrequired to be awarded an identification number pursuant to federal law or afederally approved numbering system of another state, and for which anidentification number has been so awarded: Provided, that any such vessel shallnot have been within this State for a period in excess of 90 consecutive days.
(2) A vessel from acountry other than the United States temporarily using the waters of thisState.
(3) A vessel whose owneris the United States, a state or a subdivision thereof.
(4) A ship's lifeboat.
(5) A vessel that has avalid marine document issued by the federal Bureau of Customs or any federalagency successor thereto.
(6) A sailboat of notmore than 14 feet on the load water line (LWL).
(7) A vessel with nomeans of propulsion other than drifting or manual paddling, poling, or rowing.
(b) The Commission ishereby empowered to permit the voluntary numbering of vessels owned by theUnited States, a state or a subdivision thereof.
(c) Those vessels ownedby the United States, a state or a subdivision thereof and those owned bynonprofit rescue squads may be assigned a certificate of number bearing no expirationdate but which shall be stamped with the word "permanent" and shallnot be renewable so long as the vessel remains the property of the governmentalentity or nonprofit rescue squad. If the ownership of any such vessel istransferred from one governmental entity to another or to a nonprofit rescuesquad or if a vessel owned by a nonprofit rescue squad is transferred toanother nonprofit rescue squad or governmental entity, the Commission shallissue a new permanent certificate of number, displaying the same identificationnumber, without charge to the successor entity. When any such vessel is sold toa private owner or is otherwise transferred to private ownership, theapplicable certificate of number shall be deemed to have expired immediatelyprior to the transfer. Prior to further use on the waters of this State, thenew owner shall obtain a certificate of number pursuant to the provisions ofthis Chapter. The provisions of this subsection applicable to a vessel owned bya nonprofit rescue squad apply only to a vessel operated exclusively for rescuepurposes, including rescue training. (1959, c. 1064, s. 7; 1981, c. 162; 1983, c. 446, ss.1‑3; 2006‑185, s. 1.)