Ind. Code ch. 14-15-6

in effect

Ind. Code § 14-15-6-0.2 Application of certain amendments to prior law

Sec. 0.2. The amendments made to IC 14-1-1-48 (before its repeal, now codified at section 2 of this chapter) apply to boating years beginning after December 31, 1989. As added by P.L.220-2011, SEC.294.

Ind. Code § 14-15-6-1 Certificate of inspection and registration; requirement

Sec. 1. (a) A person may not operate a boat upon public water to carry passengers for hire unless the following conditions are met: (1) The department or an organization approved under section 2.5 of this chapter has inspected and registered the boat. (2) A certificate of inspection and registration issued by the department is affixed to the boat in a prominent place within the clear view of the passengers. (b) A certificate of inspection and registration expires one (1) calendar year after the date on which the watercraft was inspected. However, the department may extend the expiration date for not more than thirty (30) days if conditions exist that would prevent the inspection of the watercraft before the first anniversary of the previous inspection. [Pre-1995 Recodification Citation: 14-1-1-47.] As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8. Amended by P.L.136-1997, SEC.4; P.L.164-2020, SEC.48.

Ind. Code § 14-15-6-2 Certificate of inspection and registration; issuance

Sec. 2. (a) Before issuing a certificate of inspection and registration for a passenger boat, the department shall have the boat, including all motors, machinery, and equipment, thoroughly and carefully inspected by a competent person. (b) If the department finds that: (1) the boat, including motors, machinery, and equipment, is: (A) of a suitable design and construction for the service in which the boat is or is to be employed; and (B) in a good, safe, and sound operating condition and state of repair that warrants the belief that the boat can be operated with safety in the service; (2) the boat, including motors, machinery, and equipment, is in compliance with this article and the rules adopted under this article; and (3) property tax under IC 6-1.1 is not owed on the boat, as evidenced by the tax receipt for payment from the appropriate county treasurer; the department shall register the boat and issue a certificate. (c) If the department does not find the conditions in subsection (b), the department shall immediately notify the owner of the boat why the boat fails to meet the requirements. [Pre-1995 Recodification Citation: 14-1-1-48(a).] As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8.

Ind. Code § 14-15-6-2.5 Requirements; inspections and surveys

Sec. 2.5. (a) Each boat that carries passengers upon public water for hire must have: (1) a dry dock inspection; or (2) an underwater survey; of the exterior portion of the boat that is below the waterline at least one (1) time every sixty (60) months. However, an underwater survey may only be used to satisfy the requirements of this chapter one (1) time every one hundred twenty (120) months. (b) If the owner of the boat elects to have an underwater survey, the owner must hire and pay for the underwater survey, which must be conducted by an inspector from a certified organization that is approved under subsection (c). (c) The commission shall maintain a list of certified organizations that are approved to conduct underwater surveys under this chapter. As added by P.L.164-2020, SEC.49.

Ind. Code § 14-15-6-3 Fees

Sec. 3. (a) The department shall charge and collect a fee for the following: (1) Each annual dockside inspection. (2) Each dry dock inspection. (b) The following fees shall be charged: (1) All watercraft, except sailboats, carrying not more than six (6) passengers for hire on navigable water of Indiana: (A) Dockside inspection............. $ 50 (B) Dry dock inspection............. $ 75 (2) All watercraft, except sailboats, carrying not more than six (6) passengers for hire on inland water of Indiana: (A) Dockside inspection............. $ 30 (B) Dry dock inspection............. $ 30 (3) All watercraft, except sailboats, carrying more than six (6) passengers for hire on inland water of Indiana: (A) Dockside inspection............. $ 75 (B) Dry dock inspection............. $100 (4) All watercraft propelled primarily by sail that carry passengers for hire on navigable or inland water of Indiana: (A) Dockside inspection............. $ 50 (B) Dry dock inspection............. $ 75 [Pre-1995 Recodification Citation: 14-1-1-48(b).] As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8. Amended by P.L.164-2020, SEC.50.

Ind. Code § 14-15-6-4 Inspections; taking or suspension of certificate

Sec. 4. (a) The department may: (1) periodically; and (2) with or without notice; inspect a registered passenger boat. (b) If the department finds from the inspection that the boat would not be entitled to registration if registration were sought at that time, the department shall immediately notify the owner of the boat the reason the boat fails to meet the requirements. The department may: (1) take possession of a certificate of inspection and registration issued for the boat; and (2) suspend the operation of the certificate of inspection and registration; pending the correction of the deficiencies. [Pre-1995 Recodification Citation: 14-1-1-49.] As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8.

Ind. Code § 14-15-6-5 Operation during suspension of certificate prohibited

Sec. 5. The owner of a passenger boat whose registration has been suspended under section 4 of this chapter may not use the boat or permit the boat to be used to carry passengers for hire until: (1) the deficiencies have been corrected; and (2) the certificate of inspection and registration has been issued or restored. [Pre-1995 Recodification Citation: 14-1-1-50.] As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8.

Ind. Code § 14-15-6-6 Contents of certificate

Sec. 6. Each certificate of inspection and registration must certify that the inspection has been made and must set forth, among other things, the following: (1) The date of inspection. (2) A description of the boat, including motors, machinery and equipment. (3) The age of the boat. (4) The maximum weight, including both passengers and property, that may safely be carried on the boat. (5) The method of the boat's inspection and the name of the person and organization that performed the inspection. [Pre-1995 Recodification Citation: 14-1-1-51.] As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8. Amended by P.L.164-2020, SEC.51.

Ind. Code § 14-15-6-7 Display of maximum weight

Sec. 7. A person may not operate a passenger boat unless there is painted on the outside of the boat, both to starboard and to port and in a conspicuous place, the maximum weight, including passengers and property, that may safely be carried on the boat, as set forth in the certificate. [Pre-1995 Recodification Citation: 14-1-1-52.] As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8.

Ind. Code § 14-15-6-8 Operation in excess of maximum weight prohibited

Sec. 8. A person may not operate a passenger boat with persons or property on board in excess of the maximum weight, including passengers and property, that may safely be carried on the boat, as set forth in the certificate. [Pre-1995 Recodification Citation: 14-1-1-53.] As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8.

Ind. Code § 14-15-6-9 Procedure upon sale of boat

Sec. 9. (a) Upon the sale of a passenger boat, the purchaser shall within ten (10) days do the following at the same time: (1) Give notice in writing to the department of the sale and the date of the sale. (2) Surrender the certificate to the department for cancellation. (b) The department shall, upon receipt, issue a new certificate of inspection and registration to the purchaser. The department shall charge and collect a fee of five dollars ($5) for issuing the certificate. [Pre-1995 Recodification Citation: 14-1-1-54.] As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8.

Ind. Code § 14-15-6-10 Violations

Sec. 10. A person who violates section 1, 5, 7, 8, or 9 of this chapter commits a Class C infraction. [Pre-1995 Recodification Citation: 14-1-1-59 part.] As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8. Amended by P.L.195-2014, SEC.8.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://iga.in.gov/laws/2026/ic/titles/14Fetched: 10/17/2026