Title 27 — Transportation

(a) The owner of a motorboat who has made a bona fide sale or transfer of his or her certificate of title or interest and who has delivered possession of the motorboat to the purchaser or transferee is not liable for any damages resulting from negligent operation of the motorboat…

(a) Whenever the owner of a motorboat registered with a certificate of number under this chapter sells or transfers the certificate of title or interest in and delivers possession of the motorboat to another person, the owner may notify the Office of Motor Vehicle of the sale or …

(a) As used in this section:(1) “Customer” means a person who trades in or otherwise provides a motorboat to a motorboat dealer for resale;(2) “Motorboat dealer” means a recognized motorboat dealer; and(3) “Subsequent purchaser” means a person who buys the motorboat that was prov…

(a) Except as otherwise provided, all fees required under this chapter shall be paid to the Office of Motor Vehicle. (b) The following fees are charged under this subchapter by the Secretary of the Department of Finance an Administration:(1) Certificate of title with beneficiary …

(1) As used in this chapter, unless otherwise specified in the particular subchapter:(1) “Certificate of number” means a motorboat registration or motorboat registration certificate;(2) “Length” means the extreme deck fore-and-aft measurement of a vessel;(3) “Marina” means a dock…

The Secretary of the Department of Finance and Administration may promulgate rules for the administration of this subchapter.

(a) Any person who violates any provision of § 27-101-202(8), §§ 27-101-203, 27-101-301, 27-101-303 — 27-101-306, and 27-101-308 — 27-101-312 shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be subject to a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) and not to exceed two hundred …

(a) (1) (A) It shall be the duty of every sheriff, deputy sheriff, state police officer, and enforcement officer of the Arkansas State Game and Fish Commission to enforce the provisions of this chapter, except that it shall be the duty of the Department of Health separately to en…

Jurisdiction to try offenses under this subchapter shall be in the courts of the county where the person owning or operating the boat resides or in the county where the offense is committed or in any county through or by which the boat is being run or operated on the waters of th…

(a) The Arkansas State Game and Fish Commission shall cooperate with agencies of the United States Government in establishing rules and regulations with reference to the operation of vessels on any waters of this state that are maintained or controlled by federal agencies. It is …

(a) A copy of the rules adopted pursuant to this subchapter, § 27-101-201 et seq., § 27-101-301 et seq., § 27-101-501 et seq., § 27-101-601 et seq., and the Arkansas Motorboat Registration and Titling Act, § 27-101-1001 et seq., and of any amendments of those rules shall be filed…

(a) All fines collected for violations of this chapter shall be remitted to the issuing law enforcement office to be used by that office for the administration and enforcement of this chapter. (b) However, fines collected for violations of § 27-101-401 et seq. shall be remitted t…

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, all fees collected by the Secretary of the Department of Finance and Administration under this chapter shall be deposited as special revenues into the State Treasury to the credit of the Special Revenue Fund Account of the State A…

(a) On or before the fifth of the month next following the month during which the funds shall have been received by him or her, the Treasurer of State shall distribute the funds in the manner provided in this section:(1) Three percent (3%) of the amount to the Constitutional Offi…

(1) An application fee collected by the Office of Motor Vehicle under this chapter shall be:(1) Refunded to the applicant if the application is refused or rejected; or(2) (A) Refunded to the applicant if the fee was not required to be paid under this chapter.(B) A refund shall no…

(a) The Secretary of the Department of Finance and Administration may:(1) Allow payment by credit card of any fees due under this chapter;(2) Promulgate rules providing for payment by credit card of any fees authorized under this chapter; and(3) Contract with credit card companie…

(a) The owner, renter, operator, or lessee of a vessel is liable for any injury or damage caused by the negligent operation of the vessel, whether negligence consists of violating the statutes of this state or neglecting to observe such ordinary care and operation as the rules of…

(1) No person:(1) Shall operate any motorboat or vessel or manipulate any water skis, aquaplane, personal watercraft, or similar device in a reckless or negligent manner that endangers the life, limb, or property of any person, including but not limited to, weaving through conges…

(a) (1) Every vessel shall have aboard:(A) One (1) United States Coast Guard-approved wearable personal flotation device that is:(i) Used according to its approved conditions;(ii) In good and serviceable condition; and(iii) Of proper size for each person on board;(B) A vessel twe…

(a) The owner of a boat livery shall cause to be kept a record of:(1) The name and address of the person or persons hiring any vessel;(2) The registration number of the vessel if the vessel is designed or permitted to be operated as a motorboat;(3) The departure date and time;(4)…

(a) It shall be the duty of the operator of a vessel involved in a collision, accident, or other casualty, so far as he or she can do so without serious danger to his or her own vessel, crew, and passengers, if any, to render to other persons affected by the collision, accident, …

Law enforcement vessels while being used in the enforcement of this chapter shall be exempt from the provisions of § 27-101-202; however, this exemption does not relieve the operator of the responsibility to operate his or her vessel in a reasonable and prudent manner that does n…

(a) (1) (A) It shall be unlawful for the owner of a motorboat of more than fifty horsepower (50 hp) or a personal watercraft to allow the operation of the motorboat or personal watercraft unless it is covered by a liability insurance policy that has been issued by an insurance co…

(1) Every motorboat on the waters of this state shall be numbered. No person shall operate or give permission for the operation of any motorboat on the waters of this state unless:(1) The motorboat is numbered:(A) In accordance with this subchapter;(B) In accordance with applicab…

(1) A motorboat shall not be required to be numbered under this subchapter if it is:(1) Already covered by a number in full force and effect which has been awarded to it pursuant to federal law or a federally approved numbering system of another state, provided that the boat has …

(a) The Arkansas State Game and Fish Commission shall establish a system of identification numbering for all motorboats used in this state pursuant to this subchapter. (b) In the event that an agency of the United States Government shall have in force an overall system of identif…

(a) The owner of each motorboat for which numbering is required by this state shall file an application for a number within thirty (30) calendar days after the date of purchase with the Secretary of the Department of Finance and Administration on forms approved by the Arkansas St…

(a) (1) The owner shall procure and attach to each side of the bow of the motorboat numbers conforming to the certificate of number issued to the owner by the Secretary of the Department of Finance and Administration.(2) The numbers to be procured and attached shall be at least t…

(a) The certificates of numbers issued pursuant to § 27-101-101 et seq., § 27-101-201 et seq., and this subchapter may be for a period of three (3) years. (b) The Secretary of the Department of Finance and Administration shall establish a system in a manner that the expiration da…

When a motorboat is licensed pursuant to this subchapter, if the owner has since the previous registration of a boat purchased an outboard motor for use on the boat, then as a condition of registering the boat, the owner shall furnish the serial number of the motor to the Revenue…

(a) The owner of a motorboat already covered by a number in full force and effect which has been awarded to it pursuant to then-operative federal law or federally approved numbering system of another state shall record the number prior to operating the motorboat on the waters of …

(a) Should the ownership of a motorboat change, the new owner shall file an application with the Secretary of the Department of Finance and Administration for the transfer of the certificate of operation of the motorboat to the new owner within thirty (30) calendar days after the…

(a) Whenever any motorboat numbered under the provisions of this subchapter shall be destroyed or abandoned, its owner shall notify the Secretary of the Department of Finance and Administration within fifteen (15) days after the destruction or abandonment, and the certificate of …

All records of the Revenue Division of the Department of Finance and Administration and of the Arkansas State Game and Fish Commission made or kept pursuant to this subchapter shall be public records.

All necessary registration certificates and other forms required by this chapter shall be furnished to the Revenue Division of the Department of Finance and Administration by the Arkansas State Game and Fish Commission.

(a) As used in this section:(1) (A) “Beneficiary” means one (1) individual who is designated to become the owner of a motorboat upon the death of the current owner as indicated on the certificate of number issued under this chapter.(B) “Beneficiary” does not include a business, f…

(a) (1) Upon receipt of a certificate of number issued under § 27-101-304, the owner of the motorboat shall write his or her signature on the certificate of number in the space provided.(2) (A) A certificate of number shall be carried:(i) In the motorboat to which it refers; or(i…

(a) There is established a Marine Sanitation Advisory Committee, to consist of seven (7) members appointed by the Governor as follows:(1) Four (4) members shall be marina operators;(2) Two (2) members from the state at large to be appointed by the Governor after consulting with t…

A.C.A. § 27-101-406Current through all legislation of the 2025 Regular Session.Arkansas Code of 1987 Annotated Official EditionCopyright © 2026 by the State of Arkansas All rights reserved

(a) Owners and operators of commercial boating facilities, docks, and marinas shall cooperate with all applicable state and federal agencies and the Marine Sanitation Advisory Committee to ensure that the disposal of marine sewage is consistent with state and federal law. (b) Whe…

(a) All fees and fines levied and collected under the provisions of this subchapter are declared to be special revenues and shall be deposited into the State Treasury to be credited to the Marine Sanitation Fund to be used only for the administration of this subchapter. (b) Subje…

(1) The Marine Sanitation Advisory Committee may, subject to the availability of funding:(1) Review all rules and regulations relating to marine toilets, marine sanitation systems, and disposal of marine sewage from boats as necessary to inform marina operators and boat owners of…

The Department of Health, the Division of Environmental Quality, and the Arkansas State Game and Fish Commission shall pursue cooperative agreements with all appropriate federal agencies to ensure the proper disposal of marine sewage in Arkansas.

(a) (1) Except to the extent permitted by federal law and in order to protect the health and safety of persons using the waters of this state, it is unlawful for any person to operate or use a vessel capable of discharging untreated sewage from a vessel into the waters of this st…

(a) For purposes of this section, “sewage pumpout facility” means equipment designed to receive the discharge of sewage from a marine sanitation device and allow the disposal of the sewage in a manner that prevents the sewage from entering the waters of this state. (b) Any person…

(1) The Department of Health shall:(1) Administer and enforce all laws, rules, and regulations to the extent permitted by federal law and in accordance with applicable regulations that are adopted by the United States Coast Guard and the United States Environmental Protection Age…

(a) Any person who violates any provision of this subchapter or any rule promulgated under this subchapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) and not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) or imprisonment not to exc…

(a) The General Assembly finds and determines that:(1) The regulation of boating and boaters in the state is the primary responsibility of the Arkansas State Game and Fish Commission under Arkansas Constitution, Amendment 35;(2) Most boating accidents in the state are due primari…

(a) As used in this section, “acceptable electronic format” means an electronic image produced on the person's own cellular phone or other type of portable electronic device that displays all of the information on the boater education certificate as clearly as the paper boater ed…

As used in this subchapter, “personal watercraft” means a vessel less than sixteen feet (16′) in length propelled by a water jet pump or other machinery as its primary source of motor propulsion and which is designed to be operated by a person sitting, standing, or kneeling there…