WATERCRAFT AND AIRMOBILES

§13051.__Commissioner's authority to regulate watercraft

It is the Legislature's intent that any rule adopted under this section be in accord with federal regulations that are promulgated under the Federal Boat Safety Act of 1971, Public Law 92-75, as amended. The commissioner, acting jointly with the Commissioner of Marine Resources, may adopt and amend rules under the procedure provided in the Maine Administrative Procedure Act that are not inconsistent with this chapter:

1.__Administrative procedure.__To further establish administrative procedure under this chapter;

2.__Appointment of watercraft registration agents; fees.__ Authorizing the commissioner to delegate the authority to issue watercraft registrations, subject to this subsection.

A.__The commissioner may appoint municipal clerks or other persons who a municipality may designate as municipal agents to issue watercraft registrations.__The commissioner may appoint other agents as necessary to issue watercraft registrations.__The commissioner shall determine the period when the agents are authorized to act.

B.__Agents may charge a service fee of $1 for each renewal registration issued and $2 for each registration covered by sections 13002 to 13005.__This service fee is retained by the agent.__The commissioner shall charge a $1 service fee for each registration issued by department employees.

C. An agent is delinquent if that agent fails to forward to the commissioner funds collected by that agent by the date established in rules adopted under this subsection.__Failure to remit the funds as provided in this subsection results in the following sanctions, in addition to any other provided by law.

(1)__The commissioner shall charge interest on the amount owed at the rate of 18% a year for each day the agent is delinquent.

(2)__If the agent has not paid the amount owed by the 60th day after the agent becomes delinquent, the