CHAPTER 6. PASSENGER BOATS - Indiana Statutes

IC 14-15-6
     Chapter 6. Passenger Boats

IC 14-15-6-1
Certificate of inspection and registration; requirement
     Sec. 1. (a) A person may not operate a boat upon public water to carry passengers for hire unless the following conditions are met:
        (1) The department has inspected and registered the boat.
        (2) A certificate of inspection and registration issued by the department is affixed to the boat in a prominent place within the clear view of the passengers.
    (b) A certificate of inspection and registration expires one (1) calendar year after the date on which the watercraft was inspected. However, the department may extend the expiration date for not more than thirty (30) days if conditions exist that would prevent the inspection of the watercraft before the first anniversary of the previous inspection.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8. Amended by P.L.136-1997, SEC.4.

IC 14-15-6-2
Certificate of inspection and registration; issuance
     Sec. 2. (a) Before issuing a certificate of inspection and registration for a passenger boat, the department shall have the boat, including all motors, machinery, and equipment, thoroughly and carefully inspected by a competent person.
    (b) If the department finds that:
        (1) the boat, including motors, machinery, and equipment, is:
            (A) of a suitable design and construction for the service in which the boat is or is to be employed; and
            (B) in a good, safe, and sound operating condition and state of repair that warrants the belief that the boat can be operated with safety in the service;
        (2) the boat, including motors, machinery, and equipment, is in compliance with this article and the rules adopted under this article; and
        (3) property tax under IC 6-1.1 is not owed on the boat, as evidenced by the tax receipt for payment from the appropriate county treasurer;
the department shall register the boat and issue a certificate.
    (c) If the department does not find the conditions in subsection (b), the department shall immediately notify the owner of the boat why the boat fails to meet the requirements.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8.

IC 14-15-6-3
Fees
     Sec. 3. (a) The department shall charge and collect a fee for the following:
        (1) Each annual dockside inspection.
        (2) Each dry dock inspection, which shall be conducted at least

one (1) time every sixty (60) months.
    (b) The following fees shall be charged:
        (1) All watercraft, except sailboats, carrying not more than six (6) passengers for hire on navigable water of Indiana:
            (A) Dockside inspection............. $ 50
            (B) Dry dock inspection............. $ 75
        (2) All watercraft, except sailboats, carrying not more than six (6) passengers for hire on inland water of Indiana:
            (A) Dockside inspection............. $ 30
            (B) Dry dock inspection............. $ 30
        (3) All watercraft, except sailboats, carrying more than six (6) passengers for hire on inland water of Indiana:
            (A) Dockside inspection............. $ 75
            (B) Dry dock inspection............. $100
        (4) All watercraft propelled primarily by sail that carry passengers for hire on navigable or inland water of Indiana:
            (A) Dockside inspection............. $ 50
            (B) Dry dock inspection............. $ 75
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8.

IC 14-15-6-4
Inspections; taking or suspension of certificate
     Sec. 4. (a) The department may:
        (1) periodically; and
        (2) with or without notice;
inspect a registered passenger boat.
    (b) If the department finds from the inspection that the boat would not be entitled to registration if registration were sought at that time, the department shall immediately notify the owner of the boat the reason the boat fails to meet the requirements. The department may:
        (1) take possession of a certificate of inspection and registration issued for the boat; and
        (2) suspend the operation of the certificate of inspection and registration;
pending the correction of the deficiencies.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8.

IC 14-15-6-5
Operation during suspension of certificate prohibited
     Sec. 5. The owner of a passenger boat whose registration has been suspended under section 4 of this chapter may not use the boat or permit the boat to be used to carry passengers for hire until:
        (1) the deficiencies have been corrected; and
        (2) the certificate of inspection and registration has been issued or restored.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8.

IC 14-15-6-6
Contents of certificate
     Sec. 6. Each certificate of inspection and registration must certify

that the inspection has been made and must set forth, among other things, the following:
        (1) The date of inspection.
        (2) A description of the boat, including motors, machinery and equipment.
        (3) The age of the boat.
        (4) The maximum weight, including both passengers and property, that may safely be carried on the boat.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8.

IC 14-15-6-7
Display of maximum weight
     Sec. 7. A person may not operate a passenger boat unless there is painted on the outside of the boat, both to starboard and to port and in a conspicuous place, the maximum weight, including passengers and property, that may safely be carried on the boat, as set forth in the certificate.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8.

IC 14-15-6-8
Operation in excess of maximum weight prohibited
     Sec. 8. A person may not operate a passenger boat with persons or property on board in excess of the maximum weight, including passengers and property, that may safely be carried on the boat, as set forth in the certificate.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8.

IC 14-15-6-9
Procedure upon sale of boat
     Sec. 9. (a) Upon the sale of a passenger boat, the purchaser shall within ten (10) days do the following at the same time:
        (1) Give notice in writing to the department of the sale and the date of the sale.
        (2) Surrender the certificate to the department for cancellation.
    (b) The department shall, upon receipt, issue a new certificate of inspection and registration to the purchaser. The department shall charge and collect a fee of five dollars ($5) for issuing the certificate.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8.

IC 14-15-6-10
Violations
     Sec. 10. A person who violates this chapter commits a Class C infraction.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8.