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).
(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.