1. (a) In any proceeding for violation of any statute or rule relating to the mooring of vessels, evidence of ownership including:

   1. (1) The state registration number;
   2. (2) The documented name or number of a vessel; or

   3. (3) Any other identifying name or number;

      affixed to a vessel involved in the violation shall create a presumption that the owner of the vessel was the person who unlawfully moored or placed the vessel at the point where, and during the time when, the violation occurred.

2. (b) A vessel owner may present competent evidence that the vessel was sold, transferred, or stolen, or was moored or placed in accordance with prior written permission of the State or due to an emergency berthing condition to rebut the presumption established in subsection (a).

[L 1996, c 188, §1]