SF2735

Purpose of the Bill

The bill aims to address the issue of abandoned boats in Minnesota's waters and surrounding areas. It establishes a system for tagging, notifying owners, and removing abandoned or neglected boats. The legislation is designed to mitigate environmental risks and maintain the safety and aesthetics of state waters.

Main Provisions

1. Tagging and Notification: Peace officers or designated employees can tag boats that are unlawfully situated, in poor condition, or in danger of sinking. The commissioner must be notified within 48 hours, and the boat owner is given 14 days to correct the situation upon receiving a notice.

2. Penalties for Non-compliance: If a boat owner does not address the tagged condition within the allotted time, they face a misdemeanor charge, are responsible for removal costs, and are subject to civil penalties ranging from double to five times the removal costs.

3. Seizure: Boats that remain non-compliant 14 days after the notice will be deemed abandoned and can be seized and forfeited.

4. Private Property Respect: Officers cannot enter private property for tagging or removing a boat without the owner's permission or a legal order.

5. Relation to Other Laws: There are provisions for submerged boats and coordination with neighboring jurisdictions in cases of boundary waters.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Introduces a system for addressing abandoned boats through tagging, notification, enforcement, and penalties.
• Expands the definition of property subject to seizure and forfeiture to explicitly include abandoned boats.
• Adds restrictions on licenses and registrations for individuals convicted of failing to remedy a tagged boat situation until costs are reimbursed.
• Ensures similar consequences in neighboring jurisdictions for boats abandoned in boundary waters.

Relevant Terms

abandoned boats, tagging, notification, penalties, misdemeanor, seizure, forfeiture, private property, submerged boats, environmental impact, boundary waters, game and fish licenses.