Sec. 6. (a) A request for registration under this chapter must be signed by the owner of the watercraft and accompanied by the appropriate fee specified in subsection (b). The fee to renew a watercraft registration is specified in subsection (c).

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Terms Used In Indiana Code 9-18.1-14.5-6

     (b) The fee to register a watercraft in its first year of registration is the amount determined by STEP THREE of the following formula:

STEP ONE: Determine the appropriate fee based upon the length of the watercraft as follows:

Watercraft Length (in feet)

 

At Least

But Less

 

Fee ($)

 

 

Than

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0

13

 

15

 

13

26

 

18

 

26

40

 

21

 

40

 

 

24

STEP TWO: Determine the appropriate fee based upon the value of the watercraft as follows:

Value ($)

 

Value ($)

Fee ($)

Greater Than or Equal to

 

Less Than

 

0

 

1,000

5

1,000

 

3,000

10

3,000

 

5,000

15

5,000

 

10,000

20

10,000

 

 

25

STEP THREE: Determine the sum of the STEP ONE amount plus the STEP TWO amount.

     (c) The fee to renew a watercraft registration is based upon the value of the watercraft as follows:

Class

Boat Value When New

Fee Due

 

 

At Least

But Less Than

 

 

 

 

1

 

$0.01

 

 

$500

 

 

$15

 

 

2

 

500

 

 

1,000

 

 

15

 

 

3

 

1,000

 

 

1,500

 

 

20

 

 

4

 

1,500

 

 

2,000

 

 

20

 

 

5

 

2,000

 

 

3,000

 

 

20

 

 

6

 

3,000

 

 

5,000

 

 

25

 

 

7

 

5,000

 

 

7,500

 

 

30

 

 

8

 

7,500

 

 

10,000

 

 

30

 

 

9

 

10,000

 

 

15,000

 

 

35

 

 

10

 

15,000

 

 

22,500

 

 

40

 

 

11

 

22,500

 

 

35,000

 

 

45

 

 

12

 

35,000

 

 

50,000

 

 

50

 

 

13

 

50,000

 

 

75,000

 

 

55

 

 

14

 

75,000

 or more

 

 

 

 

60

 

     (d) For purposes of this section, the bureau shall determine the value of a watercraft in the same manner as set forth in IC 6-6-11-10(b).

     (e) The fees collected under subsection (b) shall be distributed as follows:

(1) Fees collected from STEP ONE of subsection (b) shall be deposited in the fish and wildlife fund established by IC 14-22-3-2 and shall be used exclusively for the following:

(A) The enforcement of laws pertaining to watercraft.

(B) The state’s share of the cost of retirement benefits for conservation officers of the department of natural resources.

(C) Improving the navigable waters of Indiana.

(2) Sixty-six and seven-tenths percent (66.7%) of the fees collected from STEP TWO of subsection (b) shall be deposited in the lake and river enhancement fund established by IC 14-22-3.5-1.

(3) Thirty-three and three-tenths percent (33.3%) of the fees collected from STEP TWO of subsection (b) shall be deposited in the conservation officers marine enforcement fund established by IC 14-9-8-21.5.

     (f) A fee collected under subsection (c) shall be distributed as follows:

(1) Five dollars ($5) shall be deposited in the fish and wildlife fund established by IC 14-22-3-2 and shall be used exclusively for the following:

(A) The enforcement of laws pertaining to watercraft.

(B) The state’s share of the cost of retirement benefits for conservation officers of the department of natural resources.

(C) Improving the navigable waters of Indiana.

(2) The remaining amount shall be distributed as follows:

(A) Seventy-five percent (75%) to the lake and river enhancement fund established by IC 14-22-3.5-1.

(B) Twenty-five percent (25%) to the conservation officers marine enforcement fund established by IC 14-9-8-21.5.

     (g) The owner of a watercraft that is registered under this section is required to:

(1) renew the registration under subsection (c); and

(2) pay any applicable fees and excise tax under IC 6-6-11-13 on the watercraft;

each year.

As added by P.L.164-2020, SEC.38. Amended by P.L.74-2023, SEC.1.