30.51(1)(a)(a)
Certificate of number. No person may operate, and no owner may give permission for the operation of, any boat on the waters of this state unless the boat is covered by a certificate of number issued under this chapter or is exempt from the certificate of number requirements of this chapter. A boat is not covered by a certificate of number unless the owner is issued a valid certificate of number card, the certificate sticker or decal is properly attached to and displayed on the boat and the identification number is properly displayed on the boat.
30.51(1)(b)
(b)
Registration. No person may operate, and no owner may give permission for the operation of, any boat on the waters of this state unless the boat is covered by a registration issued under this chapter or is exempt from the registration requirements of this chapter. A boat is not covered by a registration unless the owner is issued a valid registration card and the registration sticker or decal is properly displayed on the boat.
30.51(2)(a)(a)
Exemptions from both certificate of number and registration requirements. A boat is exempt from both the certificate of number and the registration requirements of this chapter if it is:
30.51(2)(a)2.
2. A nonmotorized boat which is a sailboat but which either is 12 feet in length or less or is a sailboard.
30.51(2)(a)3.
3. Covered by a valid certificate of number issued under federal law or a federally approved numbering system of another state, with the identification number properly displayed on each side of the forward half, but this exemption does not apply if the boat has been within this state for a period in excess of 60 consecutive days or if this state is the state of principal use of the boat.
30.51(2)(a)3m.
3m. Covered by a valid certificate of number issued under a federally approved numbering system under a registration program established by a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band, if all of the following apply:
30.51(2)(a)3m.a.
a. The registration program of the tribe or band is covered by an agreement under
s. 23.35.
30.51(2)(a)3m.b.
b. The boat displays the identification number required by the tribe or band on each side of the forward half.
30.51(2)(a)3m.c.
c. The boat has not been, for more than 60 consecutive days, in that portion of this state that is outside the boundaries of the reservation where it is registered.
30.51(2)(a)3m.d.
d. The area of this state that is outside of the reservation where it is registered is not the area in which the boat is used or will be used most during the year.
30.51(2)(a)4.
4. Operated within a period of 60 days after application for a certificate of number has been made and the required fee has been paid, if proof of application is carried on board.
30.51(2)(a)5.
5. From a country other than the United States temporarily using the waters of this state.
30.51(2)(a)6.
6. A military or public boat of the United States, except recreational-type public vessels.
30.51(2)(a)7.
7. A boat whose owner is a state or subdivision of a state, which is used principally for governmental purposes, and which is clearly identifiable.
30.51(2)(a)9.
9. Present in this state, for a period of not to exceed 10 days, for the express purpose of competing in a race conducted under a permit from a municipality or an authorized agency of the U.S. government.
30.51(2)(b)
(b)
Exemption from certificate of number requirements. A boat is exempt from the certificate of number requirements of this chapter if it is a federally documented vessel.
30.51(2)(c)
(c)
Exemption from registration requirements. A boat is exempt from the registration requirements of this chapter if it is:
30.51(2)(c)1.
1. Covered by a certificate of number issued under this chapter.
30.51(2)(c)2.
2. A federally documented vessel which is a commercial fishing boat licensed under
s. 29.519.
30.51(2)(c)3.
3. A federally documented vessel with a home port located outside this state. This exemption does not apply if the boat has been within this state for a period in excess of 60 consecutive days or if this state is the state of principal use of the boat.
30.51(2)(c)4.
4. Operated within 60 days after an application for registration is made and the required fee is paid if proof of the application for registration is carried on board the boat.
30.51 Annotation
The state has jurisdiction over tribal members operating motorboats on non-reservation waters to enforce this section; enforcement does not conflict with members' treaty rights or federal law and is not discriminatory. State v. Big John,
146 Wis. 2d 741,
432 N.W.2d 576 (1988).
30.52
30.52
Certificate of number and registration; application; certification and registration period; fees; issuance. 30.52(1)(a)1.1. Any person who owns a boat required to be covered by a certificate of number shall apply to the department for a certificate of number.
30.52(1)(a)3.
3. If a boat otherwise subject to the certificate of number requirements of this chapter is covered by a valid certificate of number issued under federal law or the federally approved numbering system of another state and is used in this state in excess of 60 consecutive days or if this state becomes the state of principal use, the owner of the boat shall immediately apply to the department for a certificate of number.
30.52(1)(b)1.1. Any person who owns a boat required to be registered under this chapter shall apply to the department for registration.
30.52(1)(b)1m.
1m. Any person who owns a nonmotorized boat that is exempt from the certificate of number and the registration requirement under
s. 30.51 (2) (a) 1. or
2. may apply to the department for registration.
30.52(1)(b)1r.
1r. A person applying for registration of a federally documented vessel shall submit as part of the application a photocopy of the front and back of the federal certificate of documentation for the vessel, which must be current at the time of applying for registration.
30.52(1)(b)2.
2. If a federally documented vessel with a home port located outside this state is used in this state in excess of 60 consecutive days or if this state becomes the state of principal use, the owner of the boat shall immediately apply to the department for registration.
30.52(1)(c)
(c)
Application for duplicates. If a certificate of number card, a registration card, a certification sticker or decal or a registration sticker or decal is lost or destroyed the owner may apply for a duplicate. The owner shall submit an application which shall be accompanied by the required fee for each duplicate certificate of number card, registration card, certification sticker or decal or registration sticker or decal applied for.
30.52(1m)(a)(a)
Agents. For the renewal of certificates of number or certificates of registration, the department may do any of the following:
30.52(1m)(a)2.
2. Appoint, as an agent of the department, the clerk of one or more counties to renew the certificates.
30.52(1m)(a)3.
3. Appoint persons who are not employees of the department to renew the certificates as agents of the department.
30.52(1m)(b)2.
2. The department may promulgate rules regulating the activities of persons appointed under par (a) 2. and 3.
30.52(1m)(c)
(c)
Expedited service. The department may establish an expedited service to be provided by the department and agents appointed under
par. (a) 2. or
3. for the renewal of certificates of number or certificates of registration.
30.52(1m)(d)
(d)
Fees. In addition to the applicable renewal fee under
sub. (3), the department may authorize that a supplemental renewal fee of $3 be collected for the renewal of certificates of number or certificates of registration that are renewed in any of the following manners:
30.52(1m)(e)
(e)
Remittal of fees. An agent appointed under
par. (a) 2. or
3. shall remit to the department $2 of each $3 fee collected under
par. (d). Any fees remitted to or collected by the department under
par. (d) shall be credited to the appropriation account under
s. 20.370 (9) (hu).
30.52(2)
(2) Certification and registration period. The certification and registration period runs for 3 years, commencing on April 1 of the year in which the certificate of number or registration is issued and, unless sooner terminated or discontinued in accordance with this chapter, expiring on March 31 of the 3rd year after issuance. A certificate of number or registration is valid only for the period for which it is issued.
30.52(3)(a)(a)
Payment of fee required. A person who applies for the issuance or renewal of a certificate of number or registration shall pay the department the fee required under this subsection for the whole or any part of a certification and registration period.
30.52(3)(b)
(b)
Fee for boats under 16 feet. The fee for the issuance or renewal of a certificate of number for a boat less than 16 feet in length is $16.50.
30.52(3)(c)
(c)
Fee for boats 16 feet or more but less than 26 feet. The fee for the issuance or renewal of a certificate of number for a boat 16 feet or more but less than 26 feet in length is $24.
30.52(3)(d)
(d)
Fee for boats 26 feet or more but less than 40 feet. The fee for the issuance or renewal of a certificate of number for a boat 26 feet or more but less than 40 feet in length is $45.
30.52(3)(e)
(e)
Fee for boats 40 feet or longer. The fee for the issuance or renewal of a certificate of number for a boat 40 feet or more in length is $75.
30.52(3)(f)
(f)
Fee for nonmotorized sailboats. Notwithstanding
pars. (b) to
(e), the fee for the issuance or renewal of a certificate of number for a sailboat which is not a motorboat is $15.
30.52(3)(fm)
(fm)
Fee for voluntarily registered boats. Notwithstanding
pars. (b) to
(f), the fee for issuance or renewal of registration for a boat registered pursuant to
sub. (1) (b) 1m. is $9.75.
30.52(3)(g)
(g)
Fee for documented vessels. The fee for the issuance or renewal of registration for a federally documented vessel is the same as the fee for the issuance or renewal for a certificate of number under
pars. (b) to
(e).
30.52(3)(h)
(h)
Fee for issuance upon transfer of ownership. Notwithstanding
pars. (b) to
(g), the fee for the issuance of a certificate of number or registration to the new owner upon transfer of ownership of a boat certified or registered under this chapter by the previous owner is $3.75 if the certificate of number or registration is issued for the remainder of the certification and registration period for which the previous certificate of number or registration was issued.
30.52(3)(i)
(i)
Fleet fees. A person owning or holding 3 or more boats may, at the person's option, pay a fleet rate for these boats instead of the fees which otherwise would be payable under
pars. (b) to
(g). Notwithstanding
pars. (b) to
(g), the fee for the issuance or renewal of certificates of number or registrations for boats under the fleet rate is $27 plus 50% of the fees which would otherwise be applicable for the boats under
pars. (b) to
(g).
30.52(3)(im)
(im)
Dealer or manufacturer fees. A manufacturer or dealer in boats may, at the manufacturer's or dealer's option, pay a fee of $75 for the issuance or renewal of a certificate of number.
30.52(3)(j)
(j)
Fee for issuance of duplicates. The fee for the issuance of each duplicate certificate of number card, registration card, certification sticker or decal or registration sticker or decal is $2.50.
30.52(3m)
(3m) Voluntary contributions; lake research. 30.52(3m)(a)(a) Any applicant for the issuance or renewal of a certificate of number or registration under
sub. (3) (b) to
(im) may, in addition to paying the fee charged for the certificate, elect to make a voluntary $1 contribution to be used for lake research.
30.52(4)
(4) Sales and use taxes. The department shall collect from the applicant any sales and use taxes due under
s. 77.61 (1) on any boat for which a certificate of number or registration is applied for and the report in respect to those taxes. The department shall use collection and accounting methods approved by the department of revenue.
30.52(5)(a)(a)
Certificate of number; card; sticker or decal; number. 30.52(5)(a)1.1. Upon receipt of a proper application for the issuance or renewal of a certificate of number accompanied by the required fee, a sales tax report, the payment of any sales and use tax due under
s. 77.61 (1) and any other information the department determines to be necessary, the department shall issue to the applicant a certificate of number card. The certificate of number card shall state the identification number awarded, the name and address of the owner and other information the department determines to be necessary. The certificate of number card shall be of pocket size and of durable water resistant material.
30.52(5)(a)2.
2. At the time the department issues a certificate of number card, it shall issue 2 certification stickers or decals per boat. The certification stickers or decals shall bear the year of expiration of the current certification and registration period. The department shall provide the applicant with instructions concerning the attachment of the certification stickers or decals to the boat.
30.52(5)(a)3.
3. At the time the department issues a certificate of number card, it shall award an identification number. The department shall provide the applicant with instructions concerning the painting or attachment of the awarded identification number to the boat. The identification number shall be awarded to a particular boat unless the owner of the boat is a manufacturer of or dealer in boats, motors or trailers who has paid the fee under
sub. (3) (im) and the identification number is used on that boat.
30.52(5)(a)4.
4. At the time the department issues a certificate of number card, it shall furnish to the person obtaining the card a copy of the state laws pertaining to operation of boats or informational material based on these laws.
30.52(5)(b)1.1. Upon receipt of a proper application for the issuance or renewal of a registration accompanied by the required fee, a sales tax report, the payment of any sales and use tax due under
s. 77.61 (1) and any other information the department determines to be necessary, the department shall issue to the applicant a registration card. The registration card shall state the name and address of the owner and other information the department determines to be necessary. The registration card shall be of pocket size and of durable water resistant material.
30.52(5)(b)1m.
1m. The issuance or renewal of a registration card for a boat registered pursuant to
sub. (1) (b) 1m. does not authorize the use of a motor on the boat.
30.52(5)(b)2.
2. At the time the department issues a registration card, it shall issue 2 registration stickers or decals per boat. The registration stickers or decals shall bear the year of expiration of the current certification and registration period. The department shall provide the applicant with instructions concerning the attachment of the registration stickers or decals to the boat.
30.52(5)(b)3.
3. At the time the department issues a registration card, it shall furnish to the person obtaining the card a copy of the state laws pertaining to the operation of boats or informational material based on these laws.
30.52(5)(bn)1.1. For an application submitted under
par. (a) 1. or
(b) 1., the purchaser of the boat shall complete the sales tax information required by the department on the application unless
subd. 2. applies.
30.52(5)(bn)2.
2. For an application submitted under
par. (a) 1. or
(b) 1., if the seller is a manufacturer or a dealer, the manufacturer or dealer shall complete the sales tax information if the manufacturer or dealer agrees to do so on behalf of the purchaser.
30.52(5)(c)
(c)
Duplicates. Upon receipt of a proper application for the issuance of a duplicate certificate of number card, registration card, certification sticker or decal or registration sticker or decal accompanied by the required fee, the department shall issue the applicable duplicate to the owner.
30.523
30.523
Certification or registration card to be on board; display of stickers or decals and identification number. 30.523(1)(a)(a)
Certificate of number card. Any person operating a boat which is required to be covered by a certificate of number issued under this chapter shall have the certificate of number card available at all times for inspection on the boat, unless the department determines the boat is of the use, size or type as to make the retention of the certificate of number card on the boat impractical.
30.523(1)(b)
(b)
Registration card. Any person operating a boat which is required to be covered by a registration issued under this chapter shall have the registration card available at all times for inspection on the boat unless the department determines the boat is of the use, size or type as to make the retention of the registration card on the boat impractical.
