T&T: Florida Registration Sticker

[bob Austin]

I will try and address each post.

Bob Peterson, Apparently Florida wants to be assured that the vessel has paid
sales or use tax in their home state, plus to collect revenue for
their use.
Jack and Carol, What if every state which you traveled thru on your way from
New Jersey required that you pay a "Tax" to use their state waters? That is in
essence what Florida is doing for Documented vessels which do not have a home
state "registration sticker".  From New Jersy you have the potential of
passing thru six additional states.   Also it depends on what county you pay
your registration fee in as to what the amount is.  A county can elect to
charge 50% more of  the registration fee and of that extra revenue collected,
all but one dollar (which goes to Save the Manatee) goes back to that country
to use for; Save the Manatee,  markers, derelect vessel removal and lauching
ramp developement.
See Title XXIV, Chapter 328.72 (the entire chapter deals with boat
registration).

BoatMark, I am not sure if a paper certifying that you had paid your tax would
suffice.  I sailed from Calif. To Florida and didn't get the sticker for
several months, since I was told we had 90 days.  At that time there was no
problem with tax, since I owned the boat more than 6 months.  If you sail from
Calif.  it will most likely take more than 6 months.  If you become a
resident, then you have to get the registration--although a number of
documented vessels with hailing ports out of Fl don't.

Trawlerdoc.  It is a Tax--that is what the attorney said.  However, you can
drive your car in another state for 60 to 90 days, some states 6 months
without registering in that state.  For this Florida sticker there is NO grace
peroid.  You have to get it immediately upon entering Florida waters (if your
state did not register documented vessels).  Considering driving from Florida
to Calif. To Washington and back over the Northern Route, which I do
frequently.  With the same scenerio, you would have to get a car sticker at
each state: The way we do this trip, we pass thru 18 states!  How redicilous
it would be to have to buy a sticker at each state.  Consider that NO other
state requires a sticker--there is a federal law (Motor Boat Registration acts
and the Federal Boat Safety Act) which seems to require at least 60 days for
transcient use of any state waters.  There is also the issue of interstate
commerace.

Bucks2--some states do put a state number of the registration certificate for
Registration certificates, but that number is not required or permitted to be
displayed on the hull.  It seems as if some states only issue a card or paper
saying that the boat is state registered.

LarryZ--No, if the boat has any state registration stickers (documented or
state numbered vessel) it is not required to purchase a Florida Sticker or
register.  However if you want to stay longer than 30 days, theoreticaly you
need to register (but there is also a "Sojouner's Permit" which the good FWC
attorney not addressed.  The only boats required to purchase the registration
are documented vessels.

I don't have a dog in this fight.  I live in Florida, right at the Alabama
line, and all of my vessels have Florida decals.  This came to my attention
when 3 people doing the loop,  who I met at the marinas in Pensacola, told me
that they were stopped almost immediately upon entering Florida waters and
told that they needed the registration sticker.  This has not happened before.
I didn't follow up on it until Mike brought the situation to my attention
again.

Frankly, we don't really need any more boats in Florida, and we would love to
just have your money!  But...it is not right to restrict freedom of the
waterways--and that is what I see being done by collecting a "Tax" for use of
Florida waters!

Bob Austin