{"data":{"id":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-63-63-4030","jurisdiction":"us-ok","citation":"Okla. Stat. tit. 63, § 63-4030","heading":"Permanent number system for vessels","body":"A. 1. Service Oklahoma shall, and each federally recognized\n\nIndian tribe of this state may, develop and implement a permanent\n\nnumber system for vessels which is consistent with United States\n\nCoast Guard statutes and regulations. The system shall be effective\n\nupon the effective date of this act.\n\n2. Except as otherwise provided by this section, every vessel\n\non the waters of this state shall display the permanent number\n\nassigned to it by Service Oklahoma or by a federally recognized\n\nIndian tribe of this state, which number shall not be obliterated,\n\nerased, mutilated, removed or missing.\n\n3. In order to ensure that:\n\na. a permanent number issued by a federally recognized\n\nIndian tribe of this state conforms to federal\n\nstatutory and regulatory requirements of the United\n\nStates Coast Guard, and\n\nb. the rights prescribed in paragraph 2 of this\n\nsubsection are extended to every federally recognized\n\nIndian tribe of this state,\n\nevery vessel on the waters of this state assigned a permanent number\n\nby a federally recognized Indian tribe of this state which issues\n\npermanent numbers shall be recorded and maintained by Service\n\nOklahoma in the same manner as Service Oklahoma records and\n\nmaintains the permanent number of vessels on the waters of this\n\nstate which are assigned by Service Oklahoma.\n\nB. The vessels authorized to display a number other than that\n\nrequired by the provisions of the Oklahoma Vessel and Motor\n\nRegistration Act are:\n\n1. A documented vessel, provided that such vessel is currently\n\nregistered, is displaying both current registration decals, and the\n\nname, hailing port and official federal documentation number\n\nassigned to it are displayed on the vessel according to federal law\n\nor federal rules and regulations;\n\n2. A vessel from a country other than the United States\n\ntemporarily using the waters of this state;\n\n3. A vessel from another state owned by an out-of-state\n\nresident using the waters of this state;\n\n4. A vessel whose owner is the United States, a state or a\n\nsubdivision thereof; provided, however, if such vessel is used for\n\nrecreational or rental purposes on the public waters of this state,\n\nthat vessel shall display the permanent number assigned to it by\n\nService Oklahoma;\n\n5. A vessel that is used exclusively and solely for racing\n\npurposes;\n\n6. A vessel that is used exclusively and solely as a lifeboat;\n\nand\n\n7. A commercial flotation device which is assigned a permit by\n\nthe Scenic Rivers Commission pursuant to the provisions of Sections\n\n1461 et seq. of Title 82 of the Oklahoma Statutes.\n\nC. Except as otherwise provided for in this section, every\n\nvessel and every outboard motor on the waters of this state shall\n\ndisplay the current registration decals or decal assigned to it by\n\nService Oklahoma. The outboard motor registration decal shall be\n\naffixed to the upper portion of the motor cowling in such a manner\n\nthat approximately one-half (1/2) of the decal is displayed on the\n\nleft side of the motor cowling extending toward the rear of the\n\nmotor cowling. Vessel registration decals shall be:\n\n1. Affixed on each side of the forward half of the vessel; and\n\n2. In line with and within six (6) inches aft of the permanent\n\nnumber.\n\nD. The owner of any vessel issued a permanent number pursuant\n\nto the provisions of the Oklahoma Vessel and Motor Registration Act,\n\nSection 4002 et seq. of this title, shall place on or attach to the\n\nvessel the permanent number in such manner that it may be clearly\n\nvisible. The permanent number shall:\n\n1. Be maintained in legible condition;\n\n2. Be painted, applied as a decal, or otherwise affixed to each\n\nside of the forward half of the vessel in contrasting color to the\n\nbackground, as high above the waterline as is practical;\n\n3. Read from left to right;\n\n4. Be comprised of numbers and letters printed in block style\nr in such manner that it may be clearly\n\nvisible. The permanent number shall:\n\n1. Be maintained in legible condition;\n\n2. Be painted, applied as a decal, or otherwise affixed to each\n\nside of the forward half of the vessel in contrasting color to the\n\nbackground, as high above the waterline as is practical;\n\n3. Read from left to right;\n\n4. Be comprised of numbers and letters printed in block style\n\nof at least three (3) inches in height and one-half (1/2) inch in\n\nstroke width; and\n\n5. Have spaces or hyphens that are equal to the width of a\n\nletter other than \"I\" or a number other than \"1\" between the letter\n\nand number groupings.\n\nNo other similar numbers shall be displayed on either side of the\n\nforward half of the vessel.\n\nE. The provisions of this section shall not apply to sailboards\n\nor fishing tubes.\n\nF. Service Oklahoma shall adopt rules for the placement of the\n\nregistration decal in an alternate location for antique boats. In\n\nthis subsection, \"antique boat\" means a boat that:\n\n1. Is used primarily for recreational purposes; and\n\n2. Was manufactured before 1968.\n\nSuch rules shall allow vessels registered as antique boats to\n\ndisplay the registration decal on the left portion of the\n\nwindshield. In the absence of a windshield, the rules shall allow\n\noperators of antique boats to attach the registration decal to the\n\ncertificate of registration and make such decal and certificate\n\navailable for inspection when the boat is operated on public water.","path":["OK Code","Title 63"],"source_url":"https://www.oklegislature.gov/OK_Statutes/CompleteTitles/os63.pdf","current_through":"2026-08-14","vintage":"open-us-law v2026.08, retrieved 2026-09-14","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T18:32:36Z","sha256":"4b1f21a016526c082e3192b31b0b200f5baec2c8e62bea2a1e5f5f62ebf952e5","source_id":"us-ok","stale":false,"prev":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-63-63-4029","next":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-63-63-4031"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}