(1) The owner of each vessel requiring numbering by this state shall file an application for a number with the division or any representative approved by the division on forms approved and furnished by the division. The owner of the vessel must sign the application and pay an application fee as specified by the commission by rule; except that those vessels owned and operated by the state or any political subdivision of the state must be registered without payment of a registration fee. Upon receipt of the application in approved form, the division or its representative shall issue to the applicant a registration stating the number issued to the vessel. The number issued shall be painted on or attached to each side of the bow on the forward half of the vessel or, if there are no such sides, at a corresponding location on both sides of the foredeck of the vessel for which it is issued. The number issued must read from left to right in block characters of good proportion having a minimum of three inches in height, excluding border or trim, and of a color that contrasts with the color of the background, and must remain clearly visible and legible. Other numbers must not be carried on the bow of the vessel. Any person who fails to display a vessel number as required in this subsection (1) is guilty of a class 2 petty offense and, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine of twenty-five dollars.

(2) The registration shall be of pocket size and shall be on board and available at all times for inspection whenever the vessel for which it is issued is in operation in this state. Any person who violates this subsection (2) is guilty of a class 2 petty offense and, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine of fifty dollars. If a registration is lost or destroyed, the owner shall, within fifteen days, notify the division. The notification shall be in writing, shall describe the circumstances of the loss or destruction, and shall be accompanied by a fee for a replacement registration as required under section 33-12-101.

(3) When a numbered vessel is lost, destroyed, or abandoned, the registration issued for the vessel shall be surrendered to the division within fifteen days after any such event. When the owner of a numbered vessel changes his or her address from that shown on the registration, the owner shall notify the division within fifteen days of such change and, as a part of such notification, shall furnish the division with his or her new address. The commission may provide in its rules for the surrender of the registration bearing the former address and its replacement with a registration bearing the correct address or for the alteration of an outstanding registration to show the new address of the owner.

(4) All fees collected under this section shall be credited to the parks and outdoor recreation cash fund and shall be used for the administration of this article.