Vehicle Industry Registration Procedures Manual

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Section 25 of 38

Chapter 24: Vessels

24.120 Quagga/Zebra Mussel Fee

Chapter 24 Vessels

24.120 Quagga/Zebra Mussel Fee (CVC §§9851, 9853, 9860, and 9863 and CHNC §675)

The Quagga and Zebra Mussel Infestation Prevention Fee (Mussel fee) is due for original and renewal vessel registration applications with a date fees due on or after December 31, 2013. Vessels not required to be registered in California and the following registered vessels are exempt from the fee:

  • Vessels used only in marine waters.
  • Annual exempt youth group (type license [TL] V6).
  • Annual exempt government (TL V7).
  • CF numbers issued to dealers (TL V3).
  • CF numbers issued to manufacturers (TL V4).

Mussel Fee Paid Sticker

The Mussel Fee Paid sticker must be attached to the vessel as evidence of payment of the Mussel Fee. The Mussel Fee Paid sticker allows the vessel to be operated in all waters of the state, unless expressly prohibited. Vessels that are exempt from the fee are not required to display the sticker.

Mussel Fee Paid Sticker Issuance

When a completed vessel transaction includes payment of the Mussel Fee, a Mussel Fee Paid sticker must be issued manually; the sticker will not be issued programmatically or printed on the certificate of number.

Do not issue Mussel Fee Paid stickers to fee-exempt vessels.

The Mussel Fee Paid sticker is a “controlled” item which has a serial number at the bottom and requires the issuing office to manually log issuance information and retain copies of the log for two years.

After collecting the Mussel Fee and printing the certificate of number (registration card), the procedures below must be followed:

  • Obtain a Mussel Fee Paid sticker.
  • Verify that the year of the Mussel Fee Paid sticker matches the registration expiration year of the vessel.
  • Record the vessel CF number and the serial number of the Mussel Fee Paid sticker in the Inventory Tracking Log.
  • Issue the Mussel Fee Paid sticker to the applicant in addition to any other inventory required to be issued for the vessel.
  • Log damaged or voided Mussel fee Paid stickers in the Inventory Tracking Log. Write “VOID” across damaged or voided stickers and attach them to the log.

Marine Waters Exemption

Marine water is defined by the DBW as coastal and bay waters, which includes Suisun Bay. Owners of vessels operating in inland waterways, rivers, lakes, reservoirs, wetlands, or the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta cannot claim a marine water exemption.

The owner of a vessel used only in marine waters must notify DMV to claim exemption from the fee upon original vessel registration and each time the vessel registration is renewed.

A vessel owner may notify DMV of the marine water exemption for:

  • An original application by:
    • Submitting a completed REG 256 stating “This vessel is used only in marine waters” in section G.
    • Checking the box for the marine waters Mussel Fee exemption on the BOAT 101.
  • A vessel renewal application by:
    • Checking the appropriate box on the vessel registration renewal notice.— Submitting a completed REG 256 stating “This vessel is used only in marine waters” in section G.

After claiming an exemption, a vessel owner may later pay the Mussel Fee for the current registration period.

Example: The vessel will begin operating in nonexempt waters.

Procedures

  • Maintain a separate Inventory Tracking Log of Mussel Fee Paid sticker inventory for each month.
  • Ensure the vessel CF number and serial number of the Mussel Fee Paid sticker is recorded in the Inventory Tracking Log.
  • Ensure damaged or voided inventory is recorded in the Inventory Tracking Log.
  • Retain the Inventory Tracking Log for a period of two years.
  • Order additional inventory using inventory stock number 11105-X (MUSSEL FEE PAID sticker) in packages of 100. (X= the last digit of the sticker year.)
  • Direct inventory questions to your manager or contact the Accounting and Inventory Management System (AIMS) at (916) 657-7837.
  • Within 15 days after the end of a vessel registration cycle, log and destroy all remaining expired Mussel Fee Paid stickers and have a manager or designee endorse the log. Example: On January 10, 2016, all remaining 2015 Mussel Fee Paid stickers numbers QA12345-QA12999 were logged and destroyed.