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Pennsylvania Statutes Title 30 Pa.C.S.A. Fish § 5703. Identification, notice and related actions for disposition of at-risk, derelict and abandoned boats

Current as of January 01, 2026 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

(a) Authorization.--A municipality or law enforcement agency may identify a boat to be an at-risk boat, derelict boat or abandoned boat within the jurisdiction of the municipality or law enforcement agency, in collaboration with the commission.

(b) Notice to commission.--Within seven calendar days of the identification of the at-risk boat, derelict boat or abandoned boat, the municipality or law enforcement agency shall notify the commission of the following:

(1) The name and contact information of the municipality or law enforcement agency that made the discovery.

(2) The location of the at-risk boat, derelict boat or abandoned boat.

(3) The condition of the at-risk boat, derelict boat or abandoned boat.

(4) Identifying information regarding the at-risk boat, derelict boat or abandoned boat, including registration, license, capacity plate and name of the owner, if known.

(c) Notice to owner.--

(1) Following notification under subsection (b), the municipality or law enforcement agency shall, in collaboration with the commission, make reasonable efforts to notify the owner:

(i) by certified mail, return receipt requested;

(ii) in person;

(iii) by direct, individual, verifiable electronic means, including email or other forms of online direct messaging;  or

(iv) publicly accessible digital media, including social media, if at least one direct option under subparagraph (i), (ii) or (iii) is also pursued.

(2) Notice under this subsection shall contain the following:

(i) Identification of the at-risk boat, derelict boat or abandoned boat that must be removed from its current location, repaired, salvaged, securely stored or junked.

(ii) The location and condition of the at-risk boat, derelict boat or abandoned boat.

(iii) The name and contact information of the municipality or law enforcement agency that is providing the notice.

(iv) Contact information for the commission.

(v) A statement that if, within 14 calendar days after receipt of the notice under this subsection, the at-risk boat, derelict boat or abandoned boat is not removed from its current location, repaired, salvaged, securely stored or junked, or alternate arrangements are not made with the municipality, law enforcement agency or commission:

(A) The at-risk boat, derelict boat or abandoned boat shall be removed and, as appropriate, stored or junked at the expense of the owner of the at-risk boat, derelict boat or abandoned boat.

(B) The owner of the at-risk boat, derelict boat or abandoned boat shall be subject to restitution costs and any other penalty prescribed by law.

(d) Public notice.  If the identity of the owner of the at-risk boat, derelict boat or abandoned boat cannot be determined with reasonable certainty, the municipality or law enforcement agency shall, in collaboration with the commission, take steps to publish the notice described in subsection (c) in a newspaper of general circulation and by verifiable electronic means, such as publicly accessible digital media, within the municipality or jurisdiction of the law enforcement agency that provided the notice under subsection (c), except that the statement under subsection (c)(2)(v) shall refer to a time frame that is 14 calendar days after publication of the notice under this subsection.  The notice required under this subsection shall have the same effect as notice sent by certified mail.

(e) Actions by owner.--

(1) Within 14 calendar days of receipt of the notice under subsection (c) or of publication of the notice under subsection (d), the owner of the at-risk boat, derelict boat or abandoned boat shall:

(i) remove, repair, salvage, securely store or junk the at-risk boat, derelict boat or abandoned boat, as appropriate;  or

(ii) make alternate arrangements with the municipality, law enforcement agency or commission, which may include the relinquishment of the at-risk boat, derelict boat or abandoned boat to the custody of the municipality, law enforcement agency or commission.

(2) In the case of an at-risk boat, the owner of the at-risk boat that is removed and stored after the time period specified in the notice under subsection (c) or (d) may, subject to existing law, including a rule or regulation established by the commission, claim the at-risk boat upon paying the accrued costs of removal and storage of the at-risk boat and any applicable fine within 30 calendar days of receipt of the notice under subsection (c) or publication of the notice under subsection (d).

(3) In the case of a derelict boat or abandoned boat, after the time period specified in the notice under subsection (c) or (d):

(i) The owner of the derelict boat or abandoned boat shall have no right to claim the derelict boat or abandoned boat after 30 calendar days of receipt of the notice under subsection (c) or publication of the notice under subsection (d).

(ii) The owner of the derelict boat or abandoned boat shall be responsible for the expenses to remove or junk the derelict boat or abandoned boat.

(iii) The owner of the derelict boat or abandoned boat violates the provisions of this chapter if the owner was properly notified and intentionally disregarded the notice provided under subsection (c) and shall be subject to the penalties under section 5704 (relating to penalties).

(f) Recovery of costs.--A municipality, a law enforcement agency or the commission may commence an action to recover the costs incurred by the municipality, law enforcement agency or commission regarding:

(1) the removal or storage of an at-risk boat;  or

(2) the removal or junking of a derelict boat or abandoned boat.

(g) Liability.--A person involved in the identification, notification, recovery or storage of a boat under this chapter shall not be liable for any claim of property damage related to the boat.

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Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Pennsylvania Statutes Title 30 Pa.C.S.A. Fish § 5703. Identification, notice and related actions for disposition of at-risk, derelict and abandoned boats - last updated January 01, 2026 | https://codes.findlaw.com/pa/title-30-pacsa-fish/pa-csa-sect-30-5703/

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