(a) The Department of Motor Vehicles shall retain the evidence used by the department to determine the accuracy of the information in its files relating to the current ownership of a vessel and the information on the certificate of title.

(b) The department shall retain in its files all information received by the department regarding a security interest in a vessel for not less than ten years after the department receives a termination statement regarding the security interest. The information shall be accessible by the hull identification number for the vessel and any other methods provided by the department.

(c) If a person submits a record to the department, or submits information that the department accepts, and requests an acknowledgment of the filing or submission, the department shall send to the person an acknowledgment showing the hull identification number for the vessel to which the record or submission relates, the information in the filed record or submission, and the date and time the record was received or the submission accepted. A request under this section shall contain the hull identification number and be delivered by means authorized by the department.

(d) The department shall send or otherwise make available in a record the following information to any person that requests it and pays all applicable fees:

(1) Whether the files of the department indicate, as of a date and time specified by the department, but not a date earlier than ten calendar days before the department received the request, any certificate of title, security interest, termination statement or title brand that relates to a vessel:

(A) Identified by a hull identification number designated in the request;

(B) Identified by a vessel number designated in the request; or

(C) Owned by a person designated in the request;

(2) With respect to the vessel:

(A) The name and address of any owner as indicated in the files of the department or on the certificate of title;

(B) The name and address of any secured party as indicated in the files of the department or on the certificate of title, and the effective date of the information; and

(C) A copy of any termination statement indicated in the files of the department and the effective date of the termination statement; and

(3) With respect to the vessel, a copy of any certificate of origin, secured party's transfer statement under section 15-218, transfer-by-law statement under section 15-219 and other evidence of previous or current transfers of ownership.

(e) In responding to a request under this section, the department may provide the requested information in any medium, provided on request and upon payment of all applicable fees, the department shall communicate the requested information by issuing the department's written document.

(P.A. 14-63, S. 24.)

History: P.A. 14-63 effective January 1, 2016.