Section 2253. Certificates of registration, registration numbers, and validating stickers

1. Issuance. Upon the approval  of  an  application
  for registration and payment of the fee as provided in this article, the
  commissioner  shall  assign  to  a  vessel  a  registration number, and,
  without further  expense  to  the  applicant,  issue  a  certificate  of
  registration  and, effective April first, nineteen hundred eighty-six, a
  validating  sticker  or  stickers,  in  such  manner  and  form  as  the
  commissioner shall prescribe.
    2. Certificate of registration. The certificate of registration issued
  by  the  commissioner  shall be available at all times for inspection on
  the vessel for which it is issued whenever such vessel is in  operation,
  unless  otherwise  provided by a rule or regulation of the commissioner.
  Every person operating a vessel shall, upon demand of any peace officer,
  federal officer or other person having  the  authority  to  enforce  the
  provisions  of this chapter, produce the certificate of registration for
  inspection. The failure to produce the certificate of  registration,  as
  provided  herein,  shall  not  be  an  offense, but shall be presumptive
  evidence of operating a vessel which is not registered  as  required  by
  this article.
    3. Registration number. A registration number once assigned under this
  section  shall  remain  with  the  vessel until the vessel is destroyed,
  abandoned or permanently removed from the state,  or  until  changed  or
  terminated  by the commissioner. The registration number assigned to the
  vessel shall be painted on or attached to each side of the forward  half
  of  the  vessel  by the owner in such a position as to be displayed in a
  conspicuous manner with figures and letters at  least  three  inches  in
  height.  The  registration  number  shall  be  maintained  in  a legible
  condition so that the figures and letters are readily discernible during
  daylight hours at a distance of one hundred feet. No other number  shall
  be  carried  on  the  forward  half  of such vessel. Notwithstanding the
  foregoing provisions of this subdivision, a vessel having a valid marine
  document issued by the United States or a foreign government  shall  not
  be required to display its assigned registration number on the vessel.
    4.  Validating  stickers.  Effective  April  first,  nineteen  hundred
  eighty-six, at the time of the original registration and at the time  of
  each  renewal  thereof,  the  commissioner  shall  also  issue  to  said
  registrant a validating sticker or stickers indicating the  validity  of
  the   current  registration  and  the  expiration  date  thereof,  which
  validating sticker or stickers shall be affixed to the  vessel  in  such
  manner  as  the commissioner may prescribe provided, however, that where
  the hull of a vessel equipped with a windshield is constructed of  wood,
  such  validating sticker or stickers may be affixed to the windshield of
  the vessel. From that time and notwithstanding the fact  that  a  vessel
  has  been  assigned a registration number, it shall not be considered as
  validly  registered  within  the  meaning  of  this  article  unless   a
  validating  sticker  and  current  registration  certificate  have  been
  issued. In addition, the commissioner may issue a validating sticker  or
  stickers  to the holder of a certificate of registration issued prior to
  April first, nineteen hundred eighty-six, without further expense to the
  holder, indicating the validity of  the  current  registration  and  the
  expiration  date  thereof, which validating sticker or stickers shall be
  affixed to  the  vessel  in  such  a  manner  as  the  commissioner  may
  prescribe. The commissioner shall establish by regulation such terms and
  conditions  as  may  be  necessary  to  accomplish  the issuance of such
  validating sticker or stickers and the date upon  which  their  issuance
  shall be completed. From thirty days after such date and notwithstanding
  the fact that a vessel has been assigned a registration number and has a
  current  certificate  of  registration,  it  shall  not be considered as

  validly  registered  within  the  meaning  of  this  article  unless   a
  validating sticker or stickers is displayed on the vessel.