1. The Department shall assign a state hull number to any vessel as required by the regulations adopted by the Commission pursuant to NRS 488.169.
2. A person shall not:
(a) Intentionally deface, destroy, remove or alter any hull number required for a vessel without written authorization from the Department; or
(b) Place or stamp any serial number upon a vessel except a number assigned to the vessel by the Department.
3. This section does not prohibit:
(a) The restoration of the original hull number by an owner of a vessel when the restoration is authorized by the Department; or
(b) Any manufacturer from placing numbers or marks in the ordinary course of business upon new vessels or parts of vessels.
4. The Department shall, upon request, assign a state hull number to any handmade vessel.
5. Any person who violates subsection 2 is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.