Chapter 270-B: Abandoned Boats

No person shall abandon any boat at any time on the waters of the state.

Any boat found unattended in a sunken, beached, or drifting condition shall be deemed abandoned by the owner. In the interest of the public safety such boat may be removed and impounded for safekeeping and disposal in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.

The director of state police or his or her authorized representatives may impound any such abandoned boat or may order the removal and storage at a place of safe keeping of any such abandoned boat. All reasonable charges of such impoundment, removal, and storage shall be a lien against the boat.

Nothing in RSA 270-B:3 shall be construed as limiting the power of the director of state police or his or her authorized representatives to tow any boat which they find being operated without proper registration or equipment, but such boat shall not be considered to be abandoned and the provisions of this chapter relating to impoundment, removal, and storage shall not apply.

The director of state police shall notify the owner, if known, of the fact of such impoundment, removal, and storage. If the abandoned boat is registered in this state, such notification shall be mailed to the person identified as the owner on the registration at the address listed on said registration. If the boat is not so registered, notice shall be placed on file with the director of motor vehicles and published in a newspaper of general circulation.

The owner of the boat may redeem the boat within 90 days of its removal by payment of the fees and release of the lien identified in RSA 270-B:3.

No person who impounds, removes, or stores or who is in charge of the storage of any such abandoned boat pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall be liable for any damages to the boat arising out of the impoundment, removal, or storage thereof.

Upon expiration of the 90-day period identified in RSA 270-B:5, the director of state police may dispose of any unredeemed boat by destroying such boat or by offering such boat for sale at public auction or the director may retain such boat for use by the state; provided, however, that if the boat is sold or retained, the purchaser or the state, in the event of retention, shall pay the cost of impoundment, removal, and storage, and shall obtain release of the lien described in RSA 270-B:3. Any money received by reason of sale of such abandoned boat at public auction shall be deposited in the state general fund.