N.Y. Vehicle & Traffic Law § 2253: Certificates of registration, registration numbers, and validating stickers

§ 2253. Certificates of registration, registration numbers, and

validating stickers. 1. Issuance. Upon the approval of an application

for registration and payment of the fee as provided in this article, the

commissioner shall assign to a vessel a registration number, and,

without further expense to the applicant, issue a certificate of

registration and, effective April first, nineteen hundred eighty-six, a

validating sticker or stickers, in such manner and form as the

commissioner shall prescribe.

2. Certificate of registration. The certificate of registration issued

by the commissioner shall be available at all times for inspection on

the vessel for which it is issued whenever such vessel is in operation,

unless otherwise provided by a rule or regulation of the commissioner.

Every person operating a vessel shall, upon demand of any peace officer,

federal officer or other person having the authority to enforce the

provisions of this chapter, produce the certificate of registration for

inspection. The failure to produce the certificate of registration, as

provided herein, shall not be an offense, but shall be presumptive

evidence of operating a vessel which is not registered as required by

this article.

3. Registration number. A registration number once assigned under this

section shall remain with the vessel until the vessel is destroyed,

abandoned or permanently removed from the state, or until changed or

terminated by the commissioner. The registration number assigned to the

vessel shall be painted on or attached to each side of the forward half

of the vessel by the owner in such a position as to be displayed in a

conspicuous manner with figures and letters at least three inches in

height. The registration number shall be maintained in a legible

condition so that the figures and letters are readily discernible during

daylight hours at a distance of one hundred feet. No other number shall

be carried on the forward half of such vessel. Notwithstanding the

foregoing provisions of this subdivision, a vessel having a valid marine

document issued by the United States or a foreign government shall not

be required to display its assigned registration number on the vessel.

4. Validating stickers. Effective April first, nineteen hundred

eighty-six, at the time of the original registration and at the time of

each renewal thereof, the commissioner shall also issue to said

registrant a validating sticker or stickers indicating the validity of

the current registration and the expiration date thereof, which

validating sticker or stickers shall be affixed to the vessel in such

manner as the commissioner may prescribe provided, however, that where

the hull of a vessel equipped with a windshield is constructed of wood,

such validating sticker or stickers may be affixed to the windshield of

the vessel. From that time and notwithstanding the fact that a vessel

has been assigned a registration number, it shall not be considered as

validly registered within the meaning of this article unless a

validating sticker and current registration certificate have been

issued. In addition, the commissioner may issue a validating sticker or

stickers to the holder of a certificate of registration issued prior to

April first, nineteen hundred eighty-six, without further expense to the

holder, indicating the validity of the current registration and the

expiration date thereof, which validating sticker or stickers shall be

affixed to the vessel in such a manner as the commissioner may

prescribe. The commissioner shall establish by regulation such terms and

conditions as may be necessary to accomplish the issuance of such

validating sticker or stickers and the date upon which their issuance

shall be completed. From thirty days after such date and notwithstanding

the fact that a vessel has been assigned a registration number and has a

current certificate of registration, it shall not be considered as

validly registered within the meaning of this article unless a

validating sticker or stickers is displayed on the vessel.