Vessels: abandonment: abatement.

Existing law makes it an infraction punishable by a maximum $3,000 fine, and until January 1, 2014, a minimum $1,000 fine for a person to abandon a vessel upon a public waterway or public or private property without the express or implied consent of the owner or person in lawful possession or control of the property, except for the urgent and immediate concern for the safety of those aboard the vessel. Existing law authorizes a public agency to sell or otherwise dispose of certain vessels that are unseaworthy derelict or hulk, or abandoned property removed from a navigable waterway, as specified, if the public agency removed or caused the removal of the property, subject to specified conditions, including certain notice requirements and that the property has been appraised by disinterested persons for an estimated value of less than $2,000. Except, until January 1, 2014, a surrendered vessel, as defined, may be disposed of immediately upon acceptance by a public agency and is not subject to the specified conditions. This bill would delete the January 1, 2014, repeal date of certain above-described provisions and delete alternative provisions that were to become operative on January 1, 2014, which would have reduced the minimum fine to $500 and eliminated the exception for a surrendered vessel. The bill would also delete an obsolete reporting requirement relating to the department's duty to track and report to specified legislative committees on the number of surrendered vessels accepted by a public agency between January 1, 2010, and January 1, 2013, pursuant to those provisions.