For immediate release: June 15, 2001

For more information, contact Kelly Thompson, SD Department of Revenue, (605) 773-3311

(PIERRE, SD) - As of July 1, 2001, owners of boats documented by the United States Coast Guard wanting to cruise South Dakota's waterways may need to register their vessels with their county treasurers.

The 2001 South Dakota Legislature enacted a bill requiring such boats to be registered and to display registration decals; the law applies not only to documented boats owned by South Dakotans but also to those out-of-state owners who plan to operate the vessels on South Dakota waters.  States are prohibited from numbering or titling boats documented with the United States Coast Guard.  To be documented, a boat must measure at least five net tons and be wholly owned by a U.S. citizen.

Debra Hillmer, Director of the Division of Motor Vehicles for the South Dakota Department of Revenue, says 24 other states already require documented boats to be registered.  Hillmer says for South Dakota, such registrations will help to address the fairness issue.

"Owners of boats that are required to be registered have been registering their vessels and paying the fees; the new law will treat owners of documented boats in the same manner as undocumented boats as far as registration is concerned.  It's the only fair way to address this situation," Hillmer said.

To register their documented boats, South Dakota boat owners must provide a copy of their document papers issued by the United States Coast Guard and documentation verifying that sales/use tax was paid on their boat to their county treasurer's office.  Once application for registration has been made, the boat owner will receive South Dakota issued registration decals to be displayed on each side of the bow of the boat.  Hillmer says the law requires out-of-state owners to register their documented boats only if the vessel is berthed at or under contract to be berthed at a South Dakota marina for 60 days or longer; out-of-state owners may be exempt from South Dakota sales and use tax.  Out-of-state owners can register their documented boats at any South Dakota county treasurer's office.  Boats can be registered on an annual basis for a fee of $30 or for a three-year basis for only $80.

For more information on registered documented boats, contact the South Dakota Department of Revenue, Division of Motor Vehicles at (605) 773-3541.

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