30.52(1)(a)1.1. Any person who owns a boat required to be covered by a certificate of number shall apply to the department for a certificate of number.

30.52(1)(a)3.3. If a boat otherwise subject to the certificate of number requirements of this chapter is covered by a valid certificate of number issued under federal law or the federally approved numbering system of another state and is used in this state in excess of 60 consecutive days or if this state becomes the state of principal use, the owner of the boat shall immediately apply to the department for a certificate of number.

30.52(1)(b)(b) Application for registration.

30.52(1)(b)1m.1m. Any person who owns a nonmotorized boat that is exempt from the certificate of number and the registration requirement under s. 30.51 (2) (a) 1. or 2. may apply to the department for registration.

30.52(1)(b)1r.1r. A person applying for registration of a federally documented vessel shall submit as part of the application a photocopy of the front and back of the federal certificate of documentation for the vessel, which must be current at the time of applying for registration.

30.52(1)(b)2.2. If a federally documented vessel with a home port located outside this state is used in this state in excess of 60 consecutive days or if this state becomes the state of principal use, the owner of the boat shall immediately apply to the department for registration.

30.52(1)(c)(c) Application for duplicate. If a certificate of number card, a registration card, a certification decal or registration decal is lost or destroyed the owner of a boat may apply for a duplicate.

30.52(1m)(a)(a) Issuers. For the issuance of original or duplicate certification or registration documents, for the issuance of reprints under s. 23.47, and for the transfer or renewal of certification or registration documents, the department may do any of the following:

30.52(1m)(a)1.1. Directly issue, transfer, or renew certification or registration documents with or without using the expedited service under par. (ag) 1. and directly issue reprints.

30.52(1m)(a)3.3. Appoint persons who are not employees of the department as agents of the department to issue, transfer, or renew certification or registration documents using the service under par. (ag) 1. and to issue reprints.

30.52(1m)(ag)(ag) Methods of issuance.

30.52(1m)(ag)1.1. For the issuance of original or duplicate certification or registration documents and for the transfer or renewal of certification or registration documents, the department shall implement either or both of the following procedures to be provided by the department and any agents appointed under par. (a) 3.:

30.52(1m)(ag)1.a.a. A procedure under which the department or an agent appointed under par. (a) 3. accepts applications for certification or registration documents and issues temporary operating receipts at the time applicants submit applications accompanied by the required fees.

30.52(1m)(ag)1.b.b. A procedure under which the department or an agent appointed under par. (a) 3. accepts applications for certification or registration documents and issues to each applicant all or some of the certification or registration documents at the time the applicant submits the application accompanied by the required fees.

30.52(1m)(ag)2.2. Under either procedure under subd. 1., the applicant shall be issued any remaining certification or registration documents directly from the department at a later date. Any certification or registration document issued under subd. 1. b. shall be sufficient to allow the boat for which the application is submitted to be operated in compliance with the registration requirements under this section and ss. 30.51 and 30.523.

30.52(1m)(ar)(ar) Supplemental fees. In addition to the applicable fee under sub. (3), when an agent appointed under par. (a) 3. accepts an application to renew certification or registration documents, or the department accepts an application to renew registration documents through a statewide automated system, the agent or the department shall collect an issuing fee of 50 cents and a transaction fee of 50 cents each time the agent or the department issues renewal certification or registration documents or a renewal temporary operating receipt under par. (ag) 1. or 2. The agent or the department shall retain the entire amount of each issuance and transaction fee the agent or the department collects.

30.52(1m)(e)(e) Receipt of fees. All fees remitted to or collected by the department under par. (ar) shall be credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.370 (9) (hu).

30.52(1m)(f)(f) Inapplicability.

30.52(1m)(f)1.1. A dealer in boats who assists a customer in applying for a certification of number or registration without using the procedure specified in par. (ag) 1., may charge the customer a reasonable fee for providing this assistance.

30.52(1m)(f)2.2. Paragraphs (a) to (ar) do not apply to certificates of numbers issued to manufactures or dealers in boats who pay the fee under sub. (3) (im).

30.52(1r)(1r) Rules for issuers. The department may promulgate rules to establish eligibility and other criteria for the appointment of agents under sub. (1m) (a) 3. and to regulate the activities of these agents.

30.52(2)(2) Certification and registration period. Except as provided in sub. (3g), the certification and registration period runs for 3 years, commencing on April 1 of the year in which the certificate of number or registration is issued and, unless sooner terminated or discontinued in accordance with this chapter, expiring on March 31 of the 3rd year after issuance. A certificate of number or registration is valid only for the period for which it is issued.

30.52(3)(a)(a) Payment of fee required. Except as provided in sub. (3g), a person who applies for the issuance or renewal of a certificate of number or registration shall pay the department the fee required under this subsection for the whole or any part of a certification and registration period.