S. B. No. 150 As Introduced

SENATOR Armbruster

A BILL

To amend sections 1547.01, 1547.53, 1547.531, 1547.54,

1547.542, and 1547.57 of the Revised Code to

provide owners of canoes, rowboats, and inflatable

watercraft with an optional exemption from

numbering requirements and to make other changes to

the law governing watercraft.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

Section 1. That sections 1547.01, 1547.53, 1547.531, 1547.54,	7
1547.542, and 1547.57 of the Revised Code be amended to read as	8
follows:	9

Sec. 1547.01. (A) As used in sections 1541.03, 1547.25,	10
1547.26, 1547.39, 1547.40, 1547.53, 1547.54, 1547.541, 1547.542,	11
1547.543, 1547.56, 1547.57, 1547.66, 3733.21, and 5311.01 of the	12
Revised Code, "watercraft" means any of the following when used or	13
capable of being used for transportation on the water:	14

(1) A vessel operated by machinery either permanently or	15
temporarily affixed;	16

(2) A sailboat other than a sailboard;

(3) An inflatable, manually propelled boat having a hull	18
identification number meeting the requirements of the United	19
States coast guard;	20

(4) A canoe or rowboat.

"Watercraft" does not include ferries as referred to in	22
Chapter 4583. of the Revised Code.	23

Watercraft subject to section 1547.54 of the Revised Code	24
shall be divided into five classes as follows:	25

Class A: Less than sixteen feet in length;

Class 1: At least sixteen feet, but less than twenty-six	27
feet in length;	28

Class 2: At least twenty-six feet, but less than forty feet	29
in length;	30

Class 3: At least forty feet, but less than sixty-five feet	31
in length;	32

Class 4: At least sixty-five feet in length.

(B) As used in this chapter:

(1) "Vessel" includes every description of watercraft,	35
including nondisplacement craft and seaplanes, used or capable of	36
being used as a means of transportation on water.	37

(2) "Rowboat" means any vessel, except a canoe, that is	38
designed to be rowed and that is propelled by human muscular	39
effort by oars or paddles and upon which no mechanical propulsion	40
device, electric motor, internal combustion engine, or sail has	41
been affixed or is used for the operation of the vessel.	42

(3) "Sailboat" means any vessel, equipped with mast and	43
sails, dependent upon the wind to propel it in the normal course	44
of operation.	45

(a) Any sailboat equipped with an inboard engine is deemed a	46
powercraft with auxiliary sail.	47

(b) Any sailboat equipped with a detachable motor is deemed	48
a sailboat with auxiliary power.	49

(c) Any sailboat being propelled by mechanical power,	50
whether under sail or not, is deemed a powercraft and subject to	51
all laws and rules governing powercraft operation.	52

(4) "Powercraft" means any vessel propelled by machinery,	53
fuel, rockets, or similar device.	54

(5) "Person" includes any legal entity defined as a person	55
in section 1.59 of the Revised Code and any body politic, except	56
the United States and this state, and includes any agent, trustee,	57
executor, receiver, assignee, or other representative thereof.	58

(6) "Owner" includes any person who claims lawful possession	59
of a vessel by virtue of legal title or equitable interest therein	60
that entitled the person to that possession.	61

(7) "Operator" includes any person who navigates or has	62
under the person's control a vessel, or vessel and detachable	63
motor, on the waters in this state.	64

(8) "Visible" means visible on a dark night with clear	65
atmosphere.	66

(9) "Waters in this state" means all streams, rivers, lakes,	67
ponds, marshes, watercourses, waterways, and other bodies of	68
water, natural or humanmade, that are situated wholly or partially	69
within this state or within its jurisdiction and are used for	70
recreational boating.	71

(10) "Navigable waters" means waters that come under the	72
jurisdiction of the department of the army of the United States	73
and any waterways within or adjacent to this state, except inland	74
lakes having neither a navigable inlet nor outlet.	75

(11) "In operation" in reference to a vessel means that the	76
vessel is being navigated or otherwise used on the waters in this	77
state.	78

(12) "Sewage" means human body wastes and the wastes from	79
toilets and other receptacles intended to receive or retain body	80
waste.	81

(13) "Canoe" means a narrow vessel of shallow draft, pointed	82
at both ends and propelled by human muscular effort, and includes	83
kayaks, racing shells, and rowing sculls.	84

(14) "Coast guard approved" means bearing an approval number	85
assigned by the United States coast guard.	86

(15) "Type one personal flotation device" means a device	87
that is designed to turn an unconscious person floating in water	88
from a face downward position to a vertical or slightly face	89
upward position and that has at least nine kilograms,	90
approximately twenty pounds, of buoyancy.	91

(16) "Type two personal flotation device" means a device	92
that is designed to turn an unconscious person in the water from a	93
face downward position to a vertical or slightly face upward	94
position and that has at least seven kilograms, approximately	95
fifteen and four-tenths pounds, of buoyancy.	96

(17) "Type three personal flotation device" means a device	97
that is designed to keep a conscious person in a vertical or	98
slightly face upward position and that has at least seven	99
kilograms, approximately fifteen and four-tenths pounds, of	100
buoyancy.	101

(18) "Type four personal flotation device" means a device	102
that is designed to be thrown to a person in the water and not	103
worn and that has at least seven and five-tenths kilograms,	104
approximately sixteen and five-tenths pounds, of buoyancy.	105

(19) "Type five personal flotation device" means a device	106
that, unlike other personal flotation devices, has limitations on	107
its approval by the United States coast guard, including, without	108
limitation, all of the following:	109

(a) The approval label on the type five personal flotation	110
device indicates that the device is approved for the activity in	111
which the vessel is being used or as a substitute for a personal	112
flotation device of the type required on the vessel in use;.	113

(b) The personal flotation device is used in accordance with	114
any requirements on the approval label;.	115

(c) The personal flotation device is used in accordance with	116
requirements in its owner's manual if the approval label refers to	117
such a manual.	118

(20) "Inflatable watercraft" means any vessel constructed of	119
rubber, canvas, or other material that is designed to be inflated	120
with any gaseous substance, constructed with two or more air	121
cells, and operated as a vessel. Inflatable watercraft propelled	122
by a motor shall be classified as powercraft and shall be	123
registered by length. Inflatable watercraft propelled by a sail	124
shall be classified as a sailboat and shall be registered by	125
length.	126

(21) "Idle speed" means the slowest possible speed needed to	127
maintain steerage or maneuverability.	128

(22) "Diver's flag" means a red flag not less than one foot	129
square having a diagonal white stripe extending from the masthead	130
to the opposite lower corner that when displayed indicates that	131
divers are in the water.	132

(23) "Muffler" means an acoustical suppression device or	133
system that is designed and installed to abate the sound of	134
exhaust gases emitted from an internal combustion engine and that	135
prevents excessive or unusual noise.	136

(24) "Law enforcement vessel" means any vessel used in law	137
enforcement and under the command of a law enforcement officer.	138

(25) "Personal watercraft" means a vessel, less than sixteen	139
feet in length, that is propelled by machinery and designed to be	140
operated by an individual sitting, standing, or kneeling on the	141
vessel rather than by an individual sitting or standing inside the	142
vessel.	143

(26) "No wake" has the same meaning as "idle speed."

144

(27) "Watercraft dealer" means any person who is regularly	145
engaged in the business of manufacturing, selling, displaying,	146
offering for sale, or dealing in vessels at an established place	147
of business. "Watercraft dealer" does not include a person who is	148
a marine salvage dealer or any other person who dismantles,	149
salvages, or rebuilds vessels using used parts.	150

(28) "Electronic" includes electrical, digital, magnetic,	151
optical, electromagnetic, or any other form of technology that	152
entails capabilities similar to these technologies.	153

(29) "Electronic record" means a record generated,	154
communicated, received, or stored by electronic means for use in	155
an information system or for transmission from one information	156
system to another.	157

(30) "Electronic signature" means a signature in electronic	158
form attached to or logically associated with an electronic	159
record.	160

(C) Unless otherwise provided, this chapter applies to all	161
vessels operating on the waters in this state. Nothing in this	162
chapter shall be construed in contravention of any valid federal	163
act or regulation, but is in addition to the act or regulation	164
where not inconsistent.	165

The state reserves to itself the exclusive right to regulate	166
the minimum equipment requirements of watercraft and vessels	167
operated on the waters in this state.	168

Sec. 1547.53. Every watercraft operated on the waters in	169
this state shall be numbered by this state in accordance with	170
federal law or a federally approved numbering system of another	171
state. A watercraft numbered by this state shall display the	172
number on the watercraft as provided in section 1547.57 of the	173
Revised Code. Watercraft exempt from numbering by the state are:	174

(A) Those currently documented by the United States coast	175
guard or its successor;	176

(B) Those whose principal use is not on the waters in this	177
state and that have not been used within this state for more than	178
sixty days and have a valid number assigned under a federally	179
approved numbering system by another state if the number is	180
displayed in accordance with the requirements of that system and	181
the certificate of number is available for inspection whenever the	182
watercraft is on waters in this state;	183

(C) Those from a country other than the United States,	184
temporarily using the waters in this state;	185

(D) Those whose owner is the United States, a state, or a	186
political subdivision of a state;, that fit either of the	187
following descriptions, and that are clearly identifiable as such:	188

(1) A powercraft that principally is used for governmental	189
purposes other than recreational purposes;	190

(2) A watercraft other than a powercraft.

191

(E) A ship's lifeboat. As used in this division, "lifeboat"	192
means a watercraft that is held aboard another vessel and used	193
exclusively for emergency purposes.	194

(F) Those that have been exempted from numbering by the	195
chief of the division of watercraft after the chief has found that	196
the numbering of the watercraft will not materially aid in their	197
identification and, if an agency of the United States has a	198
numbering system applicable to the watercraft, after the chief has	199
further found that they also would be exempt from numbering by the	200
United States government if they were subject to the federal law;	201

(G) Those temporarily using the waters in this state under a	202
waiver issued by the chief to an organization sponsoring a race,	203
regatta, or special event. The chief may issue a waiver upon	204
application by the sponsoring organization at least fifteen days	205
before the date of the proposed race, regatta, or special event.	206
The waiver shall be effective for ten days including the day or	207
days of the proposed race, regatta, or special event. Such a	208
waiver does not obviate the need for compliance with section	209
1547.20 of the Revised Code.	210

(H) Canoes, rowboats, and inflatable watercraft that are	211
registered under section 1547.54 of the Revised Code and that an	212
owner, in accordance with this division, chooses not to have	213
numbered under this section. An owner of a canoe, rowboat, or	214
inflatable watercraft may choose to do either of the following:	215

(1) Have it numbered under this section, pay a lesser	216
registration fee under division (A)(2)(a) of section 1547.54 of	217
the Revised Code, and obtain square tags under division (A) of	218
section 1547.57 of the Revised Code;	219

(2) Not have it numbered under this section, pay a higher	220
registration fee under division (A)(2)(b) of section 1547.54 of	221
the Revised Code, and obtain a rectangular tag under division (C)	222
of section 1547.57 of the Revised Code.	223

Sec. 1547.531. (A)(1) Except as provided in division (A)(2)	224
or (B) of this section, no person shall operate or give permission	225
for the operation of any watercraft on the waters in this state	226
unless the watercraft is registered in the name of the current	227
owner in accordance with section 1547.54 of the Revised Code, and	228
the registration is valid and in effect.	229

(2) On and after January 1, 1999, if a watercraft that is	230
required to be issued a certificate of title under Chapter 1548.	231
of the Revised Code is transferred to a new owner, it need not be	232
registered under section 1547.54 of the Revised Code for	233
forty-five days following the date of the transfer, provided that	234
the new owner purchases a temporary watercraft registration under	235
division (A) of this section or holds a bill of sale from a	236
watercraft dealer.	237

For the purposes of division (A)(2) of this section, a	238
temporary watercraft registration or a bill of sale from a	239
watercraft dealer shall contain at least all of the following	240
information:	241

(a) The hull identification number or serial number of the	242
watercraft;	243

(b) The make of the watercraft;

244

245

(d) The type of propulsion, if any;

246

(e) The state in which the watercraft principally is	247
operated;	248

(f) The name of the owner;

249

(g) The address of the owner, including the zip code;

250

(h) The signature of the owner;

251

(i) The date of purchase;

252

(j) A notice to the owner that the temporary watercraft	253
registration expires forty-five days after the date of purchase of	254
the watercraft or that the watercraft cannot be operated on the	255
waters in this state solely under the bill of sale beginning	256
forty-five days after the date of purchase of the watercraft, as	257
applicable.	258

(3) A person may purchase a temporary watercraft	259
registration from the chief of the division of watercraft or from	260
an authorized agent designated under section 1547.54 of the	261
Revised Code. The chief shall furnish forms for temporary	262
watercraft registrations to authorized agents. In addition to	263
completing the registration form with the information specified in	264
divisions (A)(2)(a) to (i) of this section, the person shall pay	265
one of the applicable fees required under divisions (A)(2)(a) to	266
~~(f)~~(g) of section 1547.54 of the Revised Code as provided in that	267
section.	268

Moneys received for the payment of temporary watercraft	269
registrations shall be deposited to the credit of the waterways	270
safety fund created in section 1547.75 of the Revised Code.	271

(4) In addition to the applicable fee required under	272
division (A)(3) of this section, the chief or an authorized agent	273
shall charge an additional fee of three dollars for a temporary	274
watercraft registration that the chief or the authorized agent	275
issues. When the temporary watercraft registration is issued by	276
an authorized agent, the agent may retain the additional fee. When	277
the temporary watercraft registration is issued by the chief, the	278
additional fee shall be deposited to the credit of the waterways	279
safety fund.	280

(5) A person who purchases a temporary watercraft	281
registration for a watercraft and who subsequently applies for a	282
registration certificate under section 1547.54 of the Revised Code	283
need not pay the fee required under division (A)(2) of that	284
section for the initial registration certificate issued for that	285
watercraft, provided that at the time of application for the	286
registration certificate, the person furnishes proof of payment	287
for the temporary watercraft registration.	288

(6) A person who purchases a temporary watercraft	289
registration, who subsequently applies for a registration	290
certificate under section 1547.54 of the Revised Code, and who is	291
exempt from payment for the registration certificate under	292
division (O) of that section may apply to the chief for a refund	293
of the amount paid for the temporary watercraft registration at	294
the time that the person applies for a registration certificate.	295
The chief shall refund that amount upon issuance to the person of	296
a registration certificate.	297

(7) All records of the division of watercraft made or	298
maintained for the purposes of divisions (A)(2) to (8) of this	299
section are public records. The records shall be available for	300
inspection at reasonable hours and in a manner that is compatible	301
with normal operations of the division.	302

(8) Pursuant to division (A)(1) of section 1547.52 of the	303
Revised Code, the chief may adopt rules establishing all of the	304
following:	305

(a) Record-keeping requirements governing the issuance of	306
temporary watercraft registrations and the use of bills of sale	307
from watercraft dealers for the purposes of division (A)(2) of	308
this section;	309

(b) Procedures and requirements for the refund of fees under	310
division (A)(6) of this section;	311

(c) Any other procedures and requirements necessary for the	312
administration and enforcement of divisions (A)(2) to (8) of this	313
section.	314

(B) All of the following watercraft are exempt from	315
registration:	316

(1) Those that are exempt from numbering by the state under	317
divisions (B) to (G) of section 1547.53 of the Revised Code;	318

(2) Those that have been issued a commercial documentation	319
by the United States coast guard or its successor and are used	320
exclusively for commercial purposes;	321

(3) Those that have been documented by the United States	322
coast guard or its successor as temporarily transitting, whose	323
principal use is not on the waters in this state, and that have	324
not been used within this state for more than sixty days.	325

(C) No person shall operate a watercraft documented by the	326
United States coast guard or its successor unless the certificate	327
of documentation is valid, is on the watercraft for which it has	328
been issued, and is available for inspection whenever the	329
watercraft is in operation. In accordance with 46 C.F.R. part 67,	330
as amended, the watercraft shall display the official number, the	331
vessel name, and the home port listed on the certificate of	332
documentation.	333

(D)(1) For the purposes of this section and section 1547.53	334
of the Revised Code, a watercraft is principally using the waters	335
in this state if any of the following applies:	336

(a) The owner resides in this state and declares that the	337
watercraft principally is using the waters in this state;.	338

(b) The owner resides in another state, but declares that	339
the watercraft principally is using the waters in this state;.	340

(c) The watercraft is registered in another state or	341
documented by the United States coast guard and is used within	342
this state for more than sixty days regardless of whether it has	343
been assigned a seasonal or permanent mooring at any public or	344
private docking facility in this state.	345

(2) Notwithstanding division (D)(1)(c) of this section, a	346
person on active duty in the armed forces of the United States may	347
register a watercraft in the person's state of permanent residence	348
in lieu of registering it in this state regardless of the number	349
of days that the watercraft is used in this state.	350

Sec. 1547.54. (A)(1) ~~The~~Except as otherwise provided in	351
section 1547.542 of the Revised Code, the owner of every	352
watercraft requiring registration under this chapter shall file an	353
application for a triennial registration certificate with the	354
chief of the division of watercraft on forms that shall be	355
provided by the chief or by an electronic means approved by the	356
chief. The application shall be signed by the following:	357

(a) If the watercraft is owned by two persons under joint	358
ownership with right of survivorship established under section	359
2106.17 of the Revised Code, by both of those persons as owners of	360
the watercraft. The signatures may be done by electronic	361
signature if the owners themselves are renewing the registration	362
and there are no changes in the registration information since the	363
issuance of the immediately preceding registration certificate. In	364
all other instances, the signatures ~~must~~shall be done manually.	365

(b) If the watercraft is owned by a minor, by the minor and	366
a parent or legal guardian. The signatures may be done by	367
electronic signature if the parent or legal guardian and the minor	368
themselves are renewing the registration and there are no changes	369
in the registration information since the issuance of the	370
immediately preceding registration certificate. In all other	371
instances, the signatures ~~must~~shall be done manually.	372

(c) In all other cases, by the owner of the watercraft. The	373
signature may be done by electronic signature if the owner ~~him or~~	374
~~herself~~ is renewing the registration personally and there are no	375
changes in the registration information since the issuance of the	376
immediately preceding registration certificate. In all other	377
instances, the signatures ~~must~~shall be done manually.	378

(2) An application for a triennial registration of a	379
watercraft filed under division (A)(1) of this section shall be	380
accompanied by the following fee:	381

(a) For canoes, ~~kayaks,~~ rowboats, and inflatable watercraft	382
that are numbered under section 1547.53 of the Revised Code,	383
twelve dollars;	384

(b) For canoes, row boats, and inflatable watercraft that are	385
not numbered under section 1547.53 of the Revised Code, seventeen	386
dollars;	387

(c) For class A watercraft, including motorized canoes,	388
thirty dollars;	389

~~(c)~~(d) For class 1 watercraft, forty-five dollars;

390

~~(d)~~(e) For class 2 watercraft, sixty dollars;

391

~~(e)~~(f) For class 3 watercraft, seventy-five dollars;

392

~~(f)~~(g) For class 4 watercraft, ninety dollars.

393

(3) For the purpose of registration, any watercraft operated	394
by means of power, sail, or any other mechanical or electrical	395
means of propulsion, except motorized canoes, shall be registered	396
by length as prescribed in this section.	397

(4) If an application for registration is filed by two	398
persons as owners under division (A)(1)(a) of this section, the	399
person who is listed first on the title shall serve as and perform	400
the duties of the "owner" and shall be considered the person "in	401
whose name the watercraft is registered" for purposes of divisions	402
(B) to (Q) of this section and for purposes of all other sections	403
in this chapter.	404

(B) All registration certificates issued under this section	405
are valid for three years and are renewable on a triennial basis	406
unless sooner terminated or discontinued in accordance with this	407
chapter. The renewal date shall be printed on the registration	408
certificate. A registration certificate may be renewed by the	409
owner in the manner prescribed by the chief. All fees shall be	410
charged according to a proration of the time remaining in the	411
registration cycle to the nearest year.	412

(C) In addition to the fees set forth in this section, the	413
chief, or any authorized agent, shall charge an additional fee of	414
three dollars for any registration certificate the chief or	415
authorized agent issues. When the registration certificate is	416
issued by an authorized agent, the additional fee of three dollars	417
shall be retained by the issuing agent. When the registration	418
certificate is issued by the chief, the additional fee of three	419
dollars shall be deposited to the credit of the waterways safety	420
fund established in section 1547.75 of the Revised Code.	421

(D)(1) Upon receipt of the application in approved form, the	422
chief shall enter the same upon the records of the office of the	423
division, assign a number to the watercraft if a number is	424
required under section 1547.53 of the Revised Code, and issue to	425
the applicant a registration certificate. If a number is assigned	426
by the chief, it shall be set forth on the certificate. The	427
registration certificate shall be on the watercraft for which it	428
is issued and available at all times for inspection whenever the	429
watercraft is in operation, except that livery operators may	430
retain the registration certificate at the livery where it shall	431
remain available for inspection at all times and except as	432
otherwise provided in division (D)(2) of this section.	433

(2) A person who is operating on the waters of this state a	434
canoe, rowboat, or inflatable watercraft that has not been	435
numbered under section 1547.53 of the Revised Code and who is	436
stopped by a law enforcement officer in the enforcement of this	437
chapter or rules adopted under it shall present to the officer,	438
not later than seventy-two hours after being stopped, a	439
registration certificate. The registration certificate shall have	440
been obtained under this section for the canoe, rowboat, or	441
inflatable watercraft prior to the time that it was stopped.	442
Failure of the person to present the registration certificate	443
within seventy-two hours constitutes prima-facie evidence of a	444
violation of this section.	445

(E) No person shall issue or be issued a registration	446
certificate for a watercraft that is required to be issued a	447
certificate of title under Chapter 1548. of the Revised Code	448
except upon presentation of a certificate of title for the	449
watercraft as provided in that chapter, proof of current	450
documentation by the United States coast guard, a renewal	451
registration form provided by the division of watercraft, or a	452
certificate of registration issued under this section that has	453
expired if there is no change in the ownership or description of	454
the watercraft.	455

(F) Whenever the ownership of a watercraft changes, a new	456
application form together with the prescribed fee shall be filed	457
with the chief or the chief's agent and a new registration	458
certificate shall be issued. The application shall be signed	459
manually by the person or persons specified in division (A)(1)(a)	460
to (c) of this section and shall be accompanied by a two-dollar	461
transfer fee. Any remaining time on the registration shall be	462
transferred. An authorized agent of the chief shall charge an	463
additional fee of three dollars, which shall be retained by the	464
issuing agent. If the certificate is issued by the chief, an	465
additional fee of three dollars for each certificate issued shall	466
be collected.	467

(G) If an agency of the United States has in force an	468
overall system of identification numbering for watercraft or	469
certain types of watercraft within the United States, the	470
numbering system employed by the division shall be in conformity	471
with that system.	472

(H) The chief may assign any registration certificates to	473
any authorized agent for the assignment thereof. If a person	474
accepts that authorization, the person may be assigned a block of	475
numbers and certificates therefor that upon assignment, in	476
conformity with this chapter and Chapter 1548. of the Revised Code	477
and with rules of the division, shall be valid as if assigned	478
directly by the division. Any person so designated as an agent by	479
the chief shall post with the division security as may be required	480
by the director of natural resources. The chief may issue an	481
order temporarily or permanently restricting or suspending an	482
agent's authorization without a hearing if the chief finds that	483
the agent has violated this chapter or Chapter 1548. of the	484
Revised Code, rules adopted under them, or any agreements	485
prescribed by the chief.	486

(I) All records of the division made or kept pursuant to	487
this section shall be public records. Those records shall be	488
available for inspection at reasonable hours and in a manner	489
compatible with normal operations of the division.	490

(J) The owner shall furnish the division notice within	491
fifteen days of the following:	492

(1) The transfer, other than through the creation of a	493
security interest in any watercraft, of all or any part of the	494
owner's interest or, if the watercraft is owned by two persons	495
under joint ownership with right of survivorship established under	496
section 2106.17 of the Revised Code, of all or any part of the	497
joint interest of either of the two persons. The transfer shall	498
not terminate the registration certificate.	499

(2) Any change in the address appearing on the certificate	500
and, as a part of the notification, shall furnish the chief with	501
the owner's new address;	502

(3) The destruction or abandonment of the watercraft.

503

(K) The chief may issue duplicate registration certificates	504
or duplicate tags to owners of currently registered watercraft,	505
the fee for which shall be four dollars.	506

(L) If the chief finds that a registration certificate	507
previously issued to an owner is in error to a degree that would	508
impair its basic purpose and use, the chief may issue a corrected	509
certificate to the owner without charge.	510

(M) No authorized agent shall issue and no person shall	511
receive or accept from an authorized agent a registration	512
certificate assigned to the authorized agent under division (H) of	513
this section unless the exact month, day, and year of issue are	514
plainly written thereon by the agent. Certificates issued with	515
incorrect dates of issue are void from the time they are issued.	516

(N) The chief, in accordance with Chapter 119. of the	517
Revised Code, shall adopt rules governing the renewal of	518
watercraft registrations by electronic means.	519

(O) As used in this section:

520

(1) "Disabled veteran" means a person who is included in	521
either of the following categories:	522

(a) Because of a service-connected disability, has been or	523
is awarded funds for the purchase of a motor vehicle under the	524
"Disabled Veterans' and Servicemen's Automobile Assistance Act of	525
1970," 84 Stat. 1998, 38 U.S.C. 1901, and amendments thereto;	526

(b) Has a service-connected disability rated at one hundred	527
per cent by the veterans administration.	528

(2) "Prisoner of war" means any regularly appointed,	529
enrolled, enlisted, or inducted member of the military forces of	530
the United States who was captured, separated, and incarcerated by	531
an enemy of the United States at any time, and any regularly	532
appointed, enrolled, or enlisted member of the military forces of	533
Great Britain, France, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China,	534
Denmark, Greece, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland,	535
South Africa, or the republics formerly associated with the Union	536
of Soviet Socialist Republics or Yugoslavia who was a citizen of	537
the United States at the time of the appointment, enrollment, or	538
enlistment, and was captured, separated, and incarcerated by an	539
enemy of this country during World War II.	540

(P) Any disabled veteran, congressional medal of honor	541
awardee, or prisoner of war may apply to the chief for a	542
certificate of registration, or for a renewal of the certificate	543
of registration, without the payment of any fee required by this	544
section. The application for a certificate of registration shall	545
be accompanied by evidence of disability or by documentary	546
evidence in support of a congressional medal of honor that the	547
chief requires by rule. The application for a certificate of	548
registration by any person who has been a prisoner of war shall be	549
accompanied by written evidence in the form of a record of	550
separation, a letter from one of the armed forces of a country	551
listed in division (O)(2) of this section, or other evidence that	552
the chief may require by rule, that the person was honorably	553
discharged or is currently residing in this state on active duty	554
with one of the branches of the armed forces of the United States,	555
or was a prisoner of war and was honorably discharged or received	556
an equivalent discharge or release from one of the armed forces of	557
a country listed in division (O)(2) of this section.	558

(Q) Annually by the fifteenth day of January, the director	559
of natural resources shall determine the amount of fees that would	560
have been collected in the prior calendar year for each	561
certificate of registration issued or renewed pursuant to division	562
(P) of this section and shall certify the total amount of foregone	563
revenue to the director of budget and management for	564
reimbursement. The director of budget and management shall	565
transfer the amount certified from the general revenue fund to the	566
waterways safety fund created pursuant to section 1547.75 of the	567
Revised Code.	568

Sec. 1547.542. Any person or organization owning any number	569
of canoes, ~~kayaks,~~ rowboats, inflatable watercraft, or sailboats	570
for the purpose of rental to the public may apply with the chief	571
of the division of watercraft for and receive an annual	572
certificate of livery registration. No watercraft shall be rented	573
to the public from a livery or other place of business in this	574
state unless it first has been numbered and registered in	575
accordance with this section or section 1547.54 of the Revised	576
Code. Certificates of livery registration shall be issued by an	577
authorized agent who is selected by the chief from among those	578
designated under section 1547.54 of the Revised Code. The	579
certificate shall display the name of the owner of the livery, the	580
date of issuance, the date of expiration, the number of watercraft	581
registered, the fee paid, an authorized facsimile of the signature	582
of the chief provided by the authorized agent who is selected to	583
issue the certificate, and the signature of the livery owner. The	584
certificate shall bear the livery watercraft registration number	585
assigned to the livery owner, which shall be displayed in	586
accordance with section 1547.57 of the Revised Code on each	587
watercraft in the fleet for which the certificate was issued. The	588
owner of a livery shall obtain an amended certificate of livery	589
registration from the chief whenever the composition of the fleet	590
changes.	591

The fee for each watercraft registered under this section	592
shall be ~~in accordance with~~an annual registration fee. The fee	593
shall be one-third of the triennial registration fees prescribed	594
in section 1547.54 of the Revised Code. However, if the size of	595
the fleet does not increase, the fee for an amended certificate of	596
livery registration shall be the fee prescribed for issuing a	597
duplicate registration certificate under section 1547.54 of the	598
Revised Code, and the chief shall not refund to the livery owner	599
all or any portion of an annual registration fee applicable to a	600
watercraft transferred or abandoned by the livery owner. If the	601
size of the fleet increases, the livery owner shall be required to	602
pay the applicable annual registration fee for each watercraft	603
registered under an amended certificate of livery registration	604
that is in excess of the number of watercraft contained in the	605
annual certificate of livery registration.	606

The certificate of livery registration, rental receipts, and	607
required safety equipment are subject to inspection at any time at	608
the livery's place of business by any authorized representative of	609
the division of watercraft or any law enforcement officer in	610
accordance with section 1547.63 of the Revised Code.	611

Except as provided in this section, all watercraft registered	612
under this section are subject to this chapter and Chapter 1548.	613
of the Revised Code.	614

The chief may issue an order temporarily or permanently	615
restricting or suspending a livery certificate of registration and	616
the privileges associated with it without a hearing if the chief	617
finds that the holder of the certificate has violated this	618
chapter.	619

Sec. 1547.57. ~~When~~(A) Except as otherwise provided in	620
division (C) of this section, when the chief of the division of	621
watercraft issues a registration certificate under section 1547.54	622
of the Revised Code, the chief also shall issue to the applicant	623
two tags not larger than three inches square, color coded,	624
indicating the expiration date of the certificate. The owner of	625
watercraft currently documented by the United States coast guard	626
and for which a registration certificate is issued shall securely	627
affix one tag to the watercraft's port side and the other tag to	628
the starboard side so that the tags are clearly visible under	629
normal operating conditions. The tags shall be removed from the	630
watercraft when they become invalid. The owner of any other	631
watercraft for which a registration certificate is issued shall	632
securely affix one tag to the watercraft's port side, six inches	633
toward the stern from the identification number, and the other tag	634
to the starboard side, six inches toward the stern from the	635
identification number. The tags shall be securely affixed to the	636
watercraft prior to its operation, but shall be removed from the	637
watercraft when they become invalid. A person may operate without	638
a registration certificate issued under section 1547.54 of the	639
Revised Code, for a period not to exceed forty-five days, any	640
watercraft required to be titled on the waters in this state if	641
the person is in compliance with section 1547.531 of the Revised	642
Code.	643

(B) The owner of every watercraft requiring numbering by	644
this state shall attach to each side of the bow of the watercraft	645
the permanent identification number in such manner as may be	646
prescribed by applicable federal standards in order that it shall	647
be clearly visible. The number shall be maintained in a legible	648
condition at all times. No number other than the number assigned	649
to a watercraft or granted by reciprocity pursuant to this chapter	650
shall be painted, attached, or otherwise displayed on either side	651
of the bow of the watercraft.	652

(C) When the chief issues a registration certificate under	653
section 1547.54 of the Revised Code for a canoe, rowboat, or	654
inflatable watercraft that has not been numbered under section	655
1547.53 of the Revised Code, the chief also shall issue to the	656
applicant a tag not larger than three inches by six inches, with	657
distinguishing color coding and a number for identification	658
purposes. The owner of the canoe, rowboat, or inflatable	659
watercraft for which the registration certificate is issued shall	660
affix the tag securely to a location on the canoe, rowboat, or	661
inflatable watercraft as prescribed by rules adopted by the chief	662
under section 1547.52 of the Revised Code.	663

(D) No person shall operate or permit to be operated any	664
watercraft on the waters in this state in violation of this	665
section.	666

Section 2. That existing sections 1547.01, 1547.53, 1547.531,	667
1547.54, 1547.542, and 1547.57 of the Revised Code are hereby	668
repealed.	669