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S.B. 136

             1     

BOATING AMENDMENTS

             2     
2011 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Curtis S. Bramble

             5     
House Sponsor: Ronda Rudd Menlove

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill modifies the Motor Vehicles Code and the State Boating Act by amending
             10      provisions relating to vessels and outboard motors.
             11      Highlighted Provisions:
             12          This bill:
             13          .    provides definitions;
             14          .    includes vessels and outboard motors in the motor vehicle provisions that regulate
             15      abandoned vehicles;
             16          .    grants the Board of Parks and Recreation rulemaking authority to make rules
             17      establishing regulations for anchored, beached, moored, and abandoned vessels;
             18          .    repeals the requirement that a motorboat registration that has been revoked may not
             19      be renewed for one year and specifies the requirements for a motorboat registration
             20      to be renewed after a revocation;
             21          .    provides that a court shall dismiss a fine for a violation under this chapter if:
             22              .    the violation was an infraction or a class B or class C misdemeanor; and
             23              .    the person provides evidence to the court that the person has completed a
             24      boating education course approved by the division within a certain time frame;
             25      and
             26          .    makes technical changes.
             27      Money Appropriated in this Bill:


             28          None
             29      Other Special Clauses:
             30          None
             31      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             32      AMENDS:
             33          41-1a-1009, as last amended by Laws of Utah 1999, Chapter 217
             34          41-6a-1408, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2005, Chapter 2
             35          73-18-2, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 94
             36          73-18-4, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2009, Chapter 183
             37          73-18-13.5, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 382
             38          73-18-13.6, as enacted by Laws of Utah 1997, Chapter 348
             39          73-18-15.2, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2009, Chapter 183
             40          73-18c-304, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2006, Chapter 211
             41     
             42      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             43          Section 1. Section 41-1a-1009 is amended to read:
             44           41-1a-1009. Abandoned and inoperable vehicles, vessels, and outboard motors --
             45      Determination by commission -- Disposal of vehicles.
             46          (1) A vehicle, vessel, or outboard motor is abandoned and inoperable when:
             47          (a) the vehicle, vessel, or outboard motor has been inspected by an authorized
             48      investigator or agent appointed by the commission; and
             49          (b) the authorized investigator or agent has made a written determination that the
             50      vehicle, vessel, or outboard motor cannot be rebuilt or reconstructed in a manner that allows its
             51      use as designed by the manufacturer or is a derelict vessel as defined in Section 73-18-2 .
             52          (2) (a) Before issuing a written determination under Subsection (1), a signed statement
             53      is required from the purchaser of the vehicle, vessel, or outboard motor for salvage, identifying
             54      the vehicle, vessel, or outboard motor by identification number and certifying that the
             55      inoperable vehicle, vessel, or outboard motor will not be rebuilt, reconstructed, or in any
             56      manner allowed to operate as designed by the manufacturer.
             57          (b) The operator of the junk or salvage yard disposing of an inoperable vehicle, vessel,
             58      or outboard motor is required to keep copies of the signed statements and other written records


             59      required by the commission.
             60          (3) Upon a determination that a vehicle, vessel, or outboard motor is inoperable and
             61      cannot be rebuilt or reconstructed, the vehicle, vessel, or outboard motor may be converted to
             62      scrap or otherwise disposed of without necessity of compliance with the requirements of
             63      Sections 41-1a-1010 and 41-1a-1011 .
             64          Section 2. Section 41-6a-1408 is amended to read:
             65           41-6a-1408. Abandoned vehicles -- Removal by peace officer -- Report -- Vehicle
             66      identification.
             67          (1) As used in this section, "abandoned vehicle, vessel, or outboard motor" means a
             68      vehicle, vessel, or outboard motor that is left unattended:
             69          (a) on a highway or on or in the waters of the state for a period in excess of 48 hours;
             70      or
             71          (b) on public or private property for a period in excess of seven days without express or
             72      implied consent of the owner or person in lawful possession or control of the property.
             73          (2) A person may not abandon a vehicle, vessel, or outboard motor on a highway or on
             74      or in the waters of the state.
             75          (3) A person may not abandon a vehicle, vessel, or outboard motor on public or private
             76      property without the express or implied consent of the owner or person in lawful possession or
             77      control of the property.
             78          (4) A peace officer who has reasonable grounds to believe that a vehicle, vessel, or
             79      outboard motor has been abandoned may remove the vehicle, vessel, or outboard motor or
             80      cause it to be removed in accordance with Section 41-6a-1406 or 73-18-20.1 .
             81          (5) If the motor number, manufacturer's number or identification mark of the
             82      abandoned vehicle, vessel, or outboard motor has been defaced, altered or obliterated, the
             83      vehicle, vessel, or outboard motor may not be released or sold until:
             84          (a) the original motor number, manufacturer's number or identification mark has been
             85      replaced; or
             86          (b) a new number assigned by the Motor Vehicle Division has been stamped on the
             87      vehicle, vessel, or outboard motor.
             88          Section 3. Section 73-18-2 is amended to read:
             89           73-18-2. Definitions.


             90          As used in this chapter:
             91          (1) "Anchored" means a vessel that is temporarily attached to the bed or shoreline of a
             92      waterbody by any method and the hull of the vessel is not touching the bed or shoreline.
             93          (2) "Beached" means that a vessel's hull is resting on the bed or shoreline of a
             94      waterbody.
             95          [(1)] (3) "Board" means the Board of Parks and Recreation.
             96          [(2)] (4) "Boat livery" means a person that holds a vessel for renting or leasing.
             97          [(3)] (5) "Carrying passengers for hire" means to transport persons on vessels or to lead
             98      persons on vessels for consideration.
             99          [(4)] (6) "Consideration" means something of value given or done in exchange for
             100      something given or done by another.
             101          [(5)] (7) "Dealer" means any person who is licensed by the appropriate authority to
             102      engage in and who is engaged in the business of buying and selling vessels or of manufacturing
             103      them for sale.
             104          (8) "Derelict vessel":
             105          (a) means a vessel that is left, stored, or abandoned upon the waters of this state in a
             106      wrecked, junked, or substantially dismantled condition; and
             107          (b) includes:
             108          (i) a vessel left at a Utah port or marina without consent of the agency or other entity
             109      administering the port or marine area; and
             110          (ii) a vessel left docked or grounded upon a property without the property owner's
             111      consent.
             112          [(6)] (9) "Division" means the Division of Parks and Recreation.
             113          (10) "Moored" means long term, on the water vessel storage in an area designated and
             114      properly marked by the division or other applicable managing agency.
             115          [(7)] (11) "Motorboat" means any vessel propelled by machinery, whether or not the
             116      machinery is the principal source of propulsion.
             117          [(8)] (12) "Operate" means to navigate, control, or otherwise use a vessel.
             118          [(9)] (13) "Operator" means the person who is in control of a vessel while it is in use.
             119          [(10)] (14) "Outfitting company" means any person who, for consideration:
             120          (a) provides equipment to transport persons on all waters of this state; and


             121          (b) supervises a person who:
             122          (i) operates a vessel to transport passengers; or
             123          (ii) leads a person on a vessel.
             124          [(11)] (15) (a) "Owner" means a person, other than a lien holder, holding a proprietary
             125      interest in or the title to a vessel.
             126          (b) "Owner" includes a person entitled to the use or possession of a vessel subject to an
             127      interest by another person, reserved or created by agreement and securing payment or
             128      performance of an obligation.
             129          (c) "Owner" does not include a lessee under a lease not intended as security.
             130          [(12)] (16) "Personal watercraft" means a motorboat that is:
             131          (a) less than 16 feet in length;
             132          (b) propelled by a water jet pump; and
             133          (c) designed to be operated by a person sitting, standing, or kneeling on the vessel,
             134      rather than sitting or standing inside the vessel.
             135          [(13)] (17) "Sailboat" means any vessel having one or more sails and propelled by
             136      wind.
             137          [(14)] (18) "Vessel" means every type of watercraft, other than a seaplane on the water,
             138      used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water.
             139          [(15)] (19) "Wakeless speed" means an operating speed at which the vessel does not
             140      create or make a wake or white water trailing the vessel. This speed is not in excess of five
             141      miles per hour.
             142          [(16)] (20) "Waters of this state" means any waters within the territorial limits of this
             143      state.
             144          Section 4. Section 73-18-4 is amended to read:
             145           73-18-4. Board may promulgate rules and set fees.
             146          (1) [The] In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking
             147      Act, the board [may] shall promulgate rules:
             148          (a) creating a uniform waterway marking system which shall be obeyed by all vessel
             149      operators;
             150          (b) regulating the placement of waterway markers and other permanent or anchored
             151      objects on the waters of this state;


             152          (c) zoning certain waters of this state for the purpose of prohibiting the operation of
             153      vessels or motors for safety and health purposes only; [and]
             154          (d) regulating vessel operators who carry passengers for hire, boat liveries, and
             155      outfitting companies; and
             156          (e) regulating anchored, beached, moored, or abandoned vessels to minimize health,
             157      safety, and environmental concerns.
             158          (2) (a) The board may set fees in accordance with Section 63J-1-504 for:
             159          (i) licensing vessel operators who carry passengers for hire; and
             160          (ii) registering:
             161          (A) outfitting companies; and
             162          (B) boat liveries.
             163          (b) The license and registration fees imposed pursuant to Subsection (2)(a) shall be
             164      deposited into the Boating Account created in Section 73-18-22 .
             165          Section 5. Section 73-18-13.5 is amended to read:
             166           73-18-13.5. Motorboat accidents -- Investigation and report of operator security
             167      -- Agency action if no security -- Surrender of registration materials.
             168          (1) Upon request of a peace officer investigating an accident involving a motorboat as
             169      defined in Section 73-18c-102 , the operator of the motorboat shall provide evidence of the
             170      owner's or operator's security required under Section 73-18c-301 .
             171          (2) The peace officer shall record on a form approved by the division:
             172          (a) the information provided by the operator;
             173          (b) whether the operator provided insufficient or no information; and
             174          (c) whether the peace officer finds reasonable cause to believe that any information
             175      given is not correct.
             176          (3) The peace officer shall deposit all completed forms with the peace officer's agency,
             177      which shall forward the forms to the division no later than 10 days after receipt.
             178          (4) (a) The division shall revoke the registration of a motorboat as defined in Section
             179      73-18c-102 involved in an accident unless the owner or operator can demonstrate to the
             180      division compliance with the owner's or operator's security requirement of Section 73-18c-301
             181      at the time of the accident.
             182          (b) Any registration revoked [may not be renewed for a period of one year following


             183      the date of revocation] shall be renewed in accordance with Section 73-18-7 .
             184          (5) A person may appeal a revocation issued under Subsection (4) in accordance with
             185      procedures established by the board by rule that are consistent with Title 63G, Chapter 4,
             186      Administrative Procedures Act.
             187          (6) (a) Any person whose registration is revoked under Subsection (4) shall return the
             188      registration card and decals for the motorboat to the division.
             189          (b) If the person fails to return the registration materials as required, they shall be
             190      confiscated under Section 73-18-13.6 .
             191          (7) The board may make rules for the enforcement of this section.
             192          (8) In this section, "evidence of owner's or operator's security" includes any one of the
             193      following:
             194          (a) the operator's:
             195          (i) insurance policy;
             196          (ii) binder notice;
             197          (iii) renewal notice; or
             198          (iv) card issued by an insurance company as evidence of insurance;
             199          (b) a copy of a surety bond, certified by the surety, which conforms to Section
             200      73-18c-102 ;
             201          (c) a certificate of the state treasurer issued under Section 73-18c-305 ; or
             202          (d) a certificate of self-funded coverage issued under Section 73-18c-306 .
             203          Section 6. Section 73-18-13.6 is amended to read:
             204           73-18-13.6. Grounds for confiscation of registration materials by state --
             205      Additional fee for reinstatement.
             206          (1) (a) The division, any peace officer acting in an official capacity, or a person
             207      authorized under Subsection (2) may take possession of any registration card or decal issued by
             208      the state:
             209          (i) upon revocation of it;
             210          (ii) that is fictitious;
             211          (iii) that has been unlawfully or erroneously issued; or
             212          (iv) that is unlawfully or erroneously displayed.
             213          (b) A receipt shall be issued that describes each confiscated item.


             214          (2) The division may enter into contractual agreements with constables or other law
             215      enforcement agencies to facilitate confiscation of items listed in Subsection (1) if a person fails
             216      or refuses to surrender any of those documents to the division upon demand.
             217          [(3) The division shall assess against a person making an application to renew a
             218      registration, a fee, which shall be paid before the person's registration is renewed, to cover any
             219      costs of confiscating that person's registration materials.]
             220          (3) The division shall renew a registration that has been revoked under this section in
             221      accordance with the provisions of Section 73-18-7 .
             222          Section 7. Section 73-18-15.2 is amended to read:
             223           73-18-15.2. Minimum age of operators -- Boating safety course for youth to
             224      operate personal watercraft.
             225          (1) As used in this section, "direct supervision" means oversight at a distance within
             226      which visual contact is maintained.
             227          [(1)] (2) (a) A person under 16 years of age may not operate a motorboat on the waters
             228      of this state unless the person is under the on-board and direct supervision of a person who is at
             229      least 18 years of age.
             230          (b) A person under 16 years of age may operate a sailboat, if the person is under the
             231      direct supervision of a person who is at least 18 years of age.
             232          [(2)] (3) A person who is at least 12 years of age or older but under 16 years of age
             233      may operate a personal watercraft provided he:
             234          (a) is under the direct supervision of a person who is at least 18 years of age;
             235          (b) completes a boating safety course approved by the division; and
             236          (c) has in his possession a boating safety certificate issued by the boating safety course
             237      provider.
             238          [(3)] (4) A person who is at least 16 years of age but under 18 years of age may operate
             239      a personal watercraft, if the person:
             240          (a) completes a boating safety course approved by the division; and
             241          (b) has in his possession a boating safety certificate issued by the boating safety course
             242      provider.
             243          [(4)] (5) A person required to attend a boating safety course under Subsection [(3)]
             244      (4)(a) need not be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian while completing a boating safety


             245      course.
             246          [(5)] (6) A person may not give permission to another person to operate a vessel in
             247      violation of this section.
             248          [(6) As used in this section, "direct supervision" means oversight at a distance within
             249      which visual contact is maintained.]
             250          (7) (a) A court shall dismiss a fine for a violation under this chapter or under rules
             251      promulgated under this chapter if:
             252          (i) the violation was an infraction or a class B or class C misdemeanor; and
             253          (ii) the person provides evidence to the court that the person has completed a boating
             254      education course approved by the division within 60 days of the charges being filed.
             255          (b) A boating education course taken prior to the date of the citation described in
             256      Subsection (7)(a) does not count towards the fine dismissal under Subsection (7)(a).
             257          [(7)] (8) (a) The division may collect fees set by the board in accordance with Section
             258      63J-1-504 from each person who takes the division's boating safety course to help defray the
             259      cost of the boating safety course.
             260          (b) Money collected from the fees collected under Subsection [(7)] (8)(a) shall be
             261      deposited in the Boating Account.
             262          Section 8. Section 73-18c-304 is amended to read:
             263           73-18c-304. Evidence of owner's or operator's security to be carried when
             264      operating motorboat -- Defense -- Penalties.
             265          (1) (a) (i) Except as provided in Subsection (1)(a)(ii), a person operating a motorboat
             266      shall:
             267          (A) have in the person's immediate possession evidence of owner's or operator's
             268      security for the motorboat the person is operating; and
             269          (B) display it upon demand of a peace officer.
             270          (ii) A person operating a government-owned or government-leased motorboat is
             271      exempt from the requirements of Subsection (1)(a)(i).
             272          (b) Evidence of owner's or operator's security includes any one of the following:
             273          (i) the operator's:
             274          (A) insurance policy;
             275          (B) binder notice;


             276          (C) renewal notice; or
             277          (D) card issued by an insurance company as evidence of insurance;
             278          (ii) a copy of a surety bond, certified by the surety, which conforms to Section
             279      73-18c-102 ;
             280          (iii) a certificate of the state treasurer issued under Section 73-18c-305 ; or
             281          (iv) a certificate of self-funded coverage issued under Section 73-18c-306 .
             282          (2) It is an affirmative defense to a charge under this section that the person had
             283      owner's or operator's security in effect for the motorboat the person was operating at the time of
             284      the person's citation or arrest.
             285          (3) (a) A letter from an insurance producer or company verifying that the person had
             286      the required liability insurance coverage on the date specified is considered proof of owner's or
             287      operator's security for purposes of Subsection (2).
             288          (b) The court considering a citation issued under this section shall allow the letter
             289      under Subsection (3)(a) and a copy of the citation to be faxed or mailed to the clerk of the court
             290      to satisfy Subsection (2).
             291          (4) A violation of this section is a class B misdemeanor.
             292          (5) If a person is convicted of a violation of this section and if the person is the owner
             293      of a motorboat, the court shall:
             294          (a) require the person to surrender the person's registration materials to the court; and
             295          (b) forward the registration materials, together with a copy of the conviction, to the
             296      division.
             297          (6) (a) Upon receiving notification from a court of a conviction for a violation of this
             298      section, the division shall revoke the person's motorboat registration.
             299          (b) Any registration revoked [may not be renewed for a period of one year following
             300      the date of revocation] shall be renewed in accordance with Section 73-18-7 .




Legislative Review Note
    as of 1-27-11 9:40 AM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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