Title 50 — Motor and Non-Motor Vehicles and Traffic.

(a) For the purposes of this chapter, the term: (1) “Agreement” shall have the same meaning as provided in § 28:1-201(b)(3). (2) “Barge” means a vessel that is not self-propelled or fitted for propulsion by sail, paddle, oar, or similar device. (3) “Builder’s certificate” means a…

Except as otherwise provided in § 50-1541.28, this chapter shall apply to any transaction, certificate of title, or record relating to a vessel, even if the transaction, certificate of title, or record was entered into or created before January 1, 2016.

Unless displaced by a provision of this chapter, the principles of law and equity shall supplement the provisions of this chapter.

(a) The local law of the jurisdiction under whose certificate of title a vessel is covered governs all issues relating to the certificate of title from the time the vessel becomes covered by the certificate of title until the vessel becomes covered by another certificate of title…

(a) Except as otherwise provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this section, the owner of a vessel for which the District is the state of principal use shall deliver to the Harbor Master an application for a certificate of title for the vessel, with the applicable fee, not later …

(a) Except as otherwise provided in §§ 50-1541.09, 50-1541.14, 50-1541.18, 50-1541.19, 50-1541.20, and 50-1541.21, only an owner may apply for a certificate of title. (b) An application for a certificate of title must be signed by the applicant and contain: (1) The applicant’s na…

(a) Unless an application for a certificate of title is rejected under subsection (c) or (d) of this section, the Harbor Master shall create a certificate of title for the vessel in accordance with subsection (b) of this section not later than 20 days after delivery to it of an a…

(a) A certificate of title must contain: (1) The date the certificate of title was created; (2) The name of the owner of record and, if not all owners are listed, an indication that there are additional owners indicated in the files of the Harbor Master; (3) The mailing address o…

(a) Unless subsection (c) of this section applies, at or before the time the owner of record transfers an ownership interest in a hull-damaged vessel that is covered by a certificate of title created by the Harbor Master, if the damage occurred while that person was an owner of t…

(a) For each record relating to a certificate of title submitted to the Harbor Master, the Harbor Master shall: (1) Ascertain or assign the hull identification number for the vessel; (2) Maintain the hull identification number and all the information submitted with the applicatio…

(a) On creation of a written certificate of title, the Harbor Master promptly shall send the certificate of title to the secured party of record or, if none, to the owner of record, at the address indicated for that person in the files of the Harbor Master. On creation of an elec…

A certificate of title is prima facie evidence of the accuracy of the information in the record that constitutes the certificate of title.

Possession of a certificate of title does not by itself provide a right to obtain possession of a vessel. Garnishment, attachment, levy, replevin, or other judicial process against the certificate of title is not effective to determine possessory rights to the vessel. This chapte…

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section or § 50-1541.28, a security interest in a vessel may be perfected only by delivery to the Harbor Master of an application for a certificate of title that identifies the secured party and otherwise complies with § 50-1541.06. The se…

(a) A secured party indicated in the files of the Harbor Master as having a security interest in a vessel shall deliver a termination statement to the Harbor Master and, on the debtor’s request, to the debtor, by the earlier of: (1) Twenty days after the secured party receives a …

(a) On voluntary transfer of an ownership interest in a vessel covered by a certificate of title, the following shall apply: (1) If the certificate of title is a written certificate of title and the transferor’s interest is noted on the certificate of title, the transferor prompt…

Except as otherwise provided in § 28:9-337, a certificate of title or other record required or authorized by this chapter is effective even if it contains incorrect information or does not contain required information.

(a) In For the purposes of this section, “secured party’s transfer statement” means a record signed by the secured party of record stating: (1) That there has been a default on an obligation secured by the vessel; (2) The secured party of record is exercising or has exercised pos…

(a) For the purpose of this section: (1) “By operation of law” means pursuant to a law or judicial order affecting ownership of a vessel: (A) Because of death, divorce or other family law proceeding, merger, consolidation, dissolution, or bankruptcy; (B) Through the exercise of t…

(a) Except as otherwise provided in § 50-1541.18 or § 50-1541.19, if the Harbor Master receives, unaccompanied by a signed certificate of title, an application for a new certificate of title that includes an indication of a transfer of ownership or a termination statement, the Ha…

(a) If a written certificate of title is lost, stolen, mutilated, destroyed, or otherwise becomes unavailable or illegible, the secured party of record or, if no secured party is indicated in the files of the Harbor Master, the owner of record may apply for and, by furnishing inf…

(a) A buyer in ordinary course of business has the protections afforded by §§ 28:2-403(2) and 28:9-320(a) even if an existing certificate of title was not signed and delivered to the buyer or a new certificate of title listing the buyer as owner of record was not created. (b) Exc…

(a) Subject to subsection (b) of this section, the effect of perfection and nonperfection of a security interest and the priority of a perfected or unperfected security interest with respect to the rights of a purchaser or creditor, including a lien creditor, is governed by Subti…

(a) The Harbor Master shall retain the evidence used to establish the accuracy of the information in its files relating to the current ownership of a vessel and the information on the certificate of title. (b) The Harbor Master shall retain in its files all information regarding …

(a) The Mayor may promulgate rules to carry out the provisions of this chapter pursuant to Chapter 5 of Title 2 [§ 2-501 et seq.] and to set fees, taxes, and other charges with respect to the titling, registration, and numbering of vessels, and otherwise to amend the Harbor Regul…

In applying and construing this uniform act, consideration must be given to the need to promote uniformity of the law with respect to its subject matter among states that enact it.

This chapter modifies, limits, and supersedes the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, approved June 30, 2000 (114 Stat. 464 ; 15 U.S.C. § 7001 , et seq.), but does not modify, limit, or supersede section 101(c) of that act, 15 U.S.C. § 7001(c) , or …

(a) The rights, duties, and interests flowing from a transaction, certificate of title, or record relating to a vessel that was validly entered into or created before January 1, 2016, and would be subject to this chapter if it had been entered into or created on or after January …