{"data":{"id":"us-nc/n.c.-gen.-stat.-75a-5.2","jurisdiction":"us-nc","citation":"N.C. Gen. Stat. § 75A-5.2","heading":"Vessel agents.","body":"(a)\tIn order to facilitate the convenience of the public, the efficiency of administration, the need to keep statistics and records affecting the conservation of wildlife resources, boating, water safety, and other matters within the jurisdiction of the Commission, and to facilitate vessel transactions, the Commission may conduct vessel transactions through any of the following:\n(1)\tVessel agents.\n(1a)\tA contracted licensing system vendor.\n(2)\tThe Commission's headquarters.\n(3)\tEmployees of the Commission.\n(4)\tTwo or more of those sources simultaneously.\n(b)\tWhen there are substantial reasons for differing treatment, the Commission may conduct vessel transactions by one method in one locality and by another method in another locality.\n(c)\tVessel agents shall receive the surcharges listed below for vessel transactions made through the agent, and the Commission shall receive the surcharges below for all other vessel transactions. The surcharge shall be added to the fee for each certificate purchased:\n(1)\tRenewal of certificate of number - $3.00.\n(2)\tTransfer of ownership and certificate of number - $5.00.\n(3)\tIssuance of new certificate of number - $5.00.\n(4)\tIssuance of duplicate certificate of number - $3.00.\n(5)\tIssuance or transfer of certificate of title - $5.00.\n(c1)\tIn addition to surcharges charged by a vessel agent or the Commission, a contracted licensing system vendor may charge the following transaction fees:\n(1)\tUp to three dollars ($3.00) per transaction for purchases made online or by other electronic means.\n(2)\tUp to one dollar ($1.00) per transaction for purchases made through a vessel agent or through the Commission.\n(3)\tUp to five dollars ($5.00) per transaction for purchases made through the contracted licensing system vendor call center.\n(d)\tWhen certificates of number are to be issued by vessel agents as provided by subsection (a) of this section, the Commission may adopt rules to provide for any of the following:\n(1)\tQualifications of the vessel agents.\n(2)\tDuties of the vessel agents.\n(3)\tMethods and procedures to ensure accountability and security for proceeds and unissued certificates of number.\n(4)\tTypes and amounts of evidence that a vessel agent must submit to relieve the agent of responsibility for losses due to occurrences beyond the control of the agent.\n(5)\tAny other reasonable requirement or condition that the Commission deems necessary to expedite and control the issuance of certificates of number by vessel agents.\n(e)\tThe Commission may adopt rules to authorize the Director to take any of the following actions related to vessel agents:\n(1)\tSelect and appoint vessel agents in the areas most convenient to the boating public.\n(2)\tLimit the number of vessel agents in any one area if necessary for efficiency of operation.\n(3)\tRequire prompt and accurate reporting and remittance of public funds or documents by vessel agents.\n(4)\tConduct periodic and special audits of accounts.\n(5)\tSuspend or terminate the authorization of any vessel agent found to be noncompliant with rules adopted by the Commission or when State funds or property are reasonably believed to be in jeopardy.\n(6)\tRequire the immediate surrender of all equipment, forms, supplies, records, and State funds and property issued by or belonging to the Commission, in the event of the termination of a license agent.\n(f)\tThe Commission is exempt from the contested case provisions of Chapter 150B of the General Statutes with respect to determinations of whether to authorize or terminate the authority of a person to conduct vessel transactions as a vessel agent of the Commission.\n(g)\tIf any check or bank account draft of any vessel agent for the issuance of certificates of number is returned by the banking facility upon which the same is drawn for lack of funds, the vessel agent is liable to the Commission or contracted licensing system vendor for a penalty of five percent (5%) of the amount of the check or bank account draft, but in no event shall the penalty be less than five dollars ($5.00) or more than two hundred dollars ($200.00). Vessel agents shall be assessed a penalty of twenty-five percent (25%) of their issuing fee on all remittances to the Commission or to a contracted licensing system vendor after the fifteenth day of the month immediately following the month of sale.\n(h)\tIt is a Class 1 misdemeanor for a vessel agent to do any of the following:\n(1)\tWithhold or misappropriate funds generated from vessel transactions.\n(2)\tFalsify records of vessel transactions.\n(3)\tWillfully and knowingly assist or allow a person to obtain a certificate of number or certificate of title for which the person is ineligible.\n(4)\tWillfully issue a backdated certificate of number or certificate of title.\n(5)\tWillfully include false information or omit material information on vessel transaction forms and records regarding either:\na.\tA person's entitlement to a particular certificate of number or certificate of title.\nb.\tThe applicability or term of a particular certificate of number.\n(6)\tCharge or accept any fee, remuneration, or other item of value that exceeds the fee amounts provided by statute.\n(7)\tCharge or accept any additional fee, remuneration, or other item of value in association with any activity set out in subdivisions (1) through (5) of this subsection. (2006-185, s. 1; 2013-283, s. 17; 2022-74, s. 15.3(b).)","path":["Chapter 75A. Boating and Water Safety.","Article 1. Boating Safety Act."],"source_url":"https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_75A/GS_75A-5.2.html","current_through":"S.L. 2026-30","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-27T18:09:22Z","sha256":"6602474fb7faef93ab4a2d6776a2b21685f21b6abf4b505cfb69519ceb2e720a","source_id":"us-nc","stale":false,"prev":"us-nc/n.c.-gen.-stat.-75a-5.1","next":"us-nc/n.c.-gen.-stat.-75a-6"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}