Legal info about cruising in puget sound sought

[stwendl]

Looking for some info with legal references or someone with authorities answers to the following questions:


The cruising limit for a non resident in WA state is 60 days with one extension of 60 days in any 12 month period if I heard right. Now, does this refer to being in Washington or being on the water in Washington? In case of a trailerable boat where the boat can be taken out of water and stored on land, or for that matter, a non trailerable boat taken out with a lift, one would not be cruising.

I called the department of licensing and while the person was sounding like not knowing everything I was told this applied to being on water only. Further more, if the boat is taken out of the water then the cruising time freezes until the boat gets back into the water. Kinda makes sense. Keeping logs of trips apparently helps to prove staying within those time boundaries.

I would assume that if you come to wa by boat or by transport to spend a week in the water, which is really not long enough to explore the region, then take the boat out to go back to work it would not really be fair to burn a 60 day pass/permit.

So coming back a month later taking the boat back into the water were left off and continuing should be an option.

I have not found any definitive reference to this in any writings on the relevant licensing website or by calling them.

Anyone with info who can clarify this? Wouldn't want to break any rules. Thanks for any references, phone numbers or email addresses of someone who knows.

 

[knotflying]

Not being knowledgable at all about Washington law, I assume you may be referring to a requirement, which most states have, that if you are in a state for a prescribed period of time you are required to register the boat in their state. In Florida the limit is 90 days cumulative in a calendar year. Now, although that is the law when I went to get what is known as a sojourner's registration the clerk asked, " How will we know how long you are here?" She is correct, but it is possible, especially if you stay at one marina. However, it is highly unlikely that someone from the government could put the time together. We are visiting the PNW for 3 months or so next summer. I never considered the registration requirements so I would be interested to hear about it.

 

[Stella Maris]

We kept Karma registered in Colorado for two and a half years while she was moored in Washington. I would not bother with trying to convince the department of licensing that you should follow the rules.

Washington has some very strange license rules. For instance, if you keep a car in Washington but are not a resident (such as we did before we officially moved here), they will not allow you to register it in the state. California wants your money no matter where you live if your car is in the state for more than 30 days. Also, the state of Washington will not allow you to register your car if you do not hold a Washington Drivers License. Maureen and I have dual residency since we still have our place in Henderson. I have a Washington DL. Maureen carries a NV DL.

This same branch of government manages boat registration....

 

[baz]

The WA web site http://www.dol.wa.gov/vehicleregistration/registerboat.html states clearly

Vessels registered in another state.
Vessel is exempt from registration only for the first 60 days of use.
On or before the 61st day of use on Washington state waters, the owner must obtain a nonresident vessel permit as required under RCW 88.02.620.
If the principal place of use changes to Washington, the vessel must be registered in Washington.

In addition the amount of the nonresident vessel permit fee is quite small at around $25 I believe.

The 60 days refers to days on the WA waters. So if by chance you venture into Canadian waters those days don't count toward the WA 60 day limitation. 😉

I advise you keep good records and for $25 (if it is indeed $25 as I really dunno for sure about that) just get a permit.

 

[scross]

Mandatory Boater Education (http://wa-washingtonstateparks.civicplu ... -Education)

Boater Education Card Example
Boaters in Washington need to have their Washington State Boater Education Card with them when operating a boat 15 horsepower or greater. Boater operators born before January 1,1955 are exempt but may choose to get a card if they plan to boat in Canada or Oregon since both require mandatory education.

 

[baz]

Hopefully, the 12 week USCG "Safe Boating" course certificate is better and should waive the Boater's card requirement in OR and/or Canada. 😉

 

[scross]

I've read this several times this year and still am not clear if the "60 days" means in the state or just in WA state waters....The Use Tax is huge in WA!

http://dor.wa.gov/docs/pubs/watercraftv ... atbroc.pdf

Registration for Nonresidents
A nonresident may use their “properly registered” vessel in Washington for 60 days or less without
the need to register or pay use tax. A properly registered vessel is one that:
o is registered or numbered under the laws of a country other than the United States
o has a valid United States Customs Service cruising license
o has a valid number issued under federal law or by an approved issuing authority from the vessel’s state of principal operation

After 60 day of use, the vessel is subject to Washington’s registration requirements and
is subject to use tax based on the vessel’s current value. A nonresident individual may extend the time of use in this state by:
o obtaining an identification document from the Department of Licensing within the first 60 days of use in this state. The document allows the vessel to be used in this state for up to six months in any consecutive 12 months (RCW 88.02.030)
o purchasing a one-time vessel use permit, if the vessel is 30 feet or longer and has not been used in this state before. The permit must be purchased within 14 days of when the vessel enters the state

The above exceptions do not apply to vessels owned by nonresident entities (partnerships, corporations, limited liability companies, etc.) For information about the purchase of a vessel in Washington State by a nonresident or a one-time
vessel use permit, please refer to the Sales and Use Tax section.

 

[walldog]

use it for up to 60 days no permit or any other issues.

Before the 60 days are up get a permit, cost about $30 for another 60 days, if you stay longer renew for another $30. Go home after that.

If you store it on the hard, it does NOT count as being in Washington waters.

If you list it for sale with a broker, it does not have to be registered.

If you have it listed with a charter company, it does not have to be registered or at least you do not have to pay the sales tax.

 

[Levitation]

Laws like this are the best argument for a constitutional change erasing the states and having one country and one set of laws 😱

 

[snydzy]

"Laws like this are the best argument for a constitutional change erasing the states and having one country and one set of laws 😱"
Wow!....ever read the 10th amendment???
Snydzy

 

[knotflying]

I didn't realize owning a boat also required a law degree! :lol:

 

[trailertrawlerkismet]

When I read Denny-O's post I DID NOT interpret it to mean he thought that the Federal Government should usurp State authority. I thought he was making a tongue in cheek statement, because of the many varied and complicated State laws about this one subject of boating/cruising that face boaters who travel from one state to another. In my opinion, nothing more.

Jim

 

[CAPTCRUNCH]

Is there such a thing as a tongue-in-cheek emoji?

 

[baz]

Is there such a thing as a tongue-in-cheek emoji?

Well this signifies a joke, right ? 😉

 

[R Baker]

Who's keeping score on this ? Does the State of Wa pay people to chase you down for 30 bucks?

 

[knotflying]

Administration of something like this is nearly impossible. If the state required every marina to enter their customers' registration into a data base then it could be managed, but until then I see it as happenstance if you were called to task. Canada charges for use of their air traffic system. Using my tail number someone would look up my address and every time I crossed into their airspace I received a bill.

 

[Levitation]

Well, maybe I was serious, maybe not.
I report, you decide. :mrgreen:

As far as the Use Tax, it can be tracked if there is the political will. There was the 'harbor nazi' at Venice who was the cause of much righteous indignation during his tenure - those of us with long memories remember him (he was hotly/indignantly discussed over on TheHullTruth). The merchants and city officials on the waterfront in Venice demanded he be reassigned because his aggressive checking of length of stay of non-Florida registered boats coming into the harbor was causing a decline in cruising boats coming in for the day for dinner and shopping. The powers that be declined to remove him because of the thousands of dollars a month he brought in for the state/county coffers. There was quite a dust up over this at the time. He finished out his final working years doing water patrol at the harbor and retired. I have not noticed any loud complaining in recent years so likely the replacement water patrol officer is ignoring the tax law.

 

[TUG-A-BAGO]

In my opinion," GO HAVE FUN!". I wouldn't spend a lot of energy worrying about time constraints of being on Washington's water ways. Personally, I would hope Washington Police have better things to do than keep track of how much time you spend on the water. Remember the burden of proof is on the State.
Most States require that you have some form of Boating Safety course that is approved by NASBLA (National Association of State Boating Law Administrators) These classes are provided by USCG or Power Squadrons. They offer an 8 hours course that will get you the necessary training to get the card. USCG also offers a more extensive course, Boating Skills and Seamanship, (recommended) that is about 8 weeks long. Get the card from the State you reside in. Example...I got my initial card from FL. however, since I reside in NJ, NJ refused to honor the card and said I needed theirs. Requiring me to take the class again in NJ
I would also recommend that you get a free "Safety Check" provided by the USCG for your vessel. The sticker applied to your vessel will often times prevent an unwanted boarding by the Police.

 

[rheimb1]

When I bought my boat last year I came across this RCW http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=88.02.420 it essentially says that your marina is responsible for tracking everyone’s boat registration. It is deemed upon request to report it to the state, but I see no reason why the state won’t make it mandatory soon.

And this RCW http://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=88.02 says that you are responsible to keep track of when you first enter Washington waters. Baz is right keep good records. Now being from Spokane and keeping my boat in Idaho requires me to license it in Idaho. My understanding of their laws is that they also require me to license it in my home state since I'm not a resident of Idaho. However Washington does not allow me to register it in Washington if is registered in another state! So I got a get out jail free card on that one. Another interesting fact I found out is that you can get a rebate on Washington state fuel tax providing it’s over 56 gallons. Most marinas say they don’t charge that tax…however it makes me wonder why their price is so high.

The laws are sometimes hard to follow but for the most part if you keep digging you can figure it out. Oh, by the way my tabs are $57!

 

[stwendl]

To my knowledge, yes they have people walking the docks

In other states, marinas are required to report to tax authorities what tenants they have for the purpose of determining which county is eligible to receive property tax donations