Authority of Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources to cancel certification or to suspend or revoke privilege of operating vessel; procedures.

(a) The Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources may cancel any boater safety certification upon determining that the holder of the certification was not entitled to the issuance or that the holder failed to give the correct or required information in the application for certification. Upon cancellation the holder shall surrender the certification cancelled and any duplicate. A holder who refuses to surrender the certification and any duplicate shall be guilty of a Class C misdemeanor, punishable upon conviction as provided in Sections 13A-5-7 and 13A-5-12.

(b) The privilege of operating a vessel on the waters of this state, as defined in Section 33-5-3, shall be subject to suspension or revocation by the commissioner in like manner and for like cause as a boater safety certification may be suspended or revoked.

(c) The commissioner may, upon receiving a record of the conviction in this state of a nonresident operator of a vessel of any offense, forward a certified copy of the record to the boater safety administrator in the state where the person was convicted is a resident.

(d) When a nonresident's operating privilege or Alabama boater safety certification is suspended or revoked, the commissioner may forward a certified copy of the record of the action to the boater safety administrator in the state where the person resides.

(e) The commissioner may suspend or revoke the boater safety certification of any person in this state or the privilege of any person to operate a vessel on the waters of this state upon receiving notice of the conviction of the person in another state of any offense therein which, if committed in this state, would be grounds for the suspension or revocation of the boater safety certification or vessel operating privilege of a vessel operator.

(f) The commissioner may give effect to conduct of a resident in another state as is provided by the laws of this state had the conduct occurred in this state.

(g) Whenever any person is convicted of any offense for which this article makes mandatory the revocation of the certification of the person, the court in which the conviction is had shall require the surrender of the certification documents and duplicates of any boater safety certification then held by the person convicted and the court shall thereupon forward the proof of certification surrendered together with a record of the conviction to the commissioner.

(h) Every court with jurisdiction over offenses committed under this article, or any other law of this state, or municipal ordinance adopted by a local authority, regulating the operation of vessels on the waters, shall forward to the commissioner, within 10 days of a record of the conviction of any person in the court for a violation of any laws for which the person is subject to boater safety certification or vessel operating privilege suspension or revocation, and the court may recommend the suspension of the certification or vessel operating privilege of the person so convicted.

(i) For the purposes of this section, the term "conviction" shall mean a final conviction. Also, for the purposes of this section, an unvacated forfeiture of bail or collateral deposited to secure a defendant's appearance in court, a plea of nolo contendere accepted by the court, the payment of a fine, a plea of guilty or a finding of guilt of a boating or vessel operation violation charge, shall be equivalent to a conviction regardless of whether the penalty is rebated, suspended, or probated.

(j) The commissioner shall forthwith revoke the certification or vessel operating privilege of any person upon receiving a record of the person's conviction of any of the following offenses:

(1) Manslaughter or homicide by vehicle or vessel resulting from the operation of a vessel.

(2) Any violation of Section 32-5A-191.3 which requires revocation.

(3) Any offense of any law or regulation for which mandatory revocation is required upon conviction.

(4) Any felony in the commission of which a vessel is used.

(5) Failure to stop, render aid, or identify the person as required under the laws of this state in the event of a boating accident resulting in the death or personal injury of another.

(6) Perjury or the making of a false affidavit or statement under oath to the Director of Public Safety or Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources under this article or under any other law or regulation relating to the ownership or operation of vessels.

(7) Conviction upon three charges of reckless or careless operation of a vessel committed within a period of 12 months.

(8) Unauthorized use of a vessel belonging to another, which act does not amount to a felony.

(k) The Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources may suspend the certification or operating privilege of a vessel operator without preliminary hearing upon a showing by its records or other sufficient evidence that the operator did the following:

(1) Has committed an offense for which mandatory revocation is required upon conviction.

(2) Has been convicted of any offense under Section 32-5A-191.3 which provides for suspension.

(3) Has been convicted of any offense of any law or regulation which provides for suspension.

(4) Has been convicted with frequency of serious offenses against boating or vessel operation laws or regulations governing the movement of vessels as to indicate a disrespect for boating or vessel operation laws and a disregard for the safety of other persons on the waters of this state.

(5) Is an habitually reckless, careless, or negligent operator of a vessel, established by a record of accidents, or by other evidence.

(6) Is incompetent to operate a vessel.

(7) Has permitted an unlawful or fraudulent use of certification.

(8) Has committed an offense in another state which if committed in this state would be grounds for suspension or revocation.

(9) Has been convicted of fleeing or attempting to elude a marine police officer.

(10) Has violated a restricted boater safety certification pursuant to Section 33-5-61.

(l) Upon suspending the certification or operating privilege of any person, the Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources shall immediately notify the person in writing and upon request shall afford the person an opportunity for a hearing as early as practicable, not to exceed 30 days after receipt of the request, in the county where the person resides or in Montgomery County in the case of a nonresident, unless the Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources and the person agree that the hearing may be held in some other county. The hearing shall be before the Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources or a duly authorized agent. At the hearing the Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources, or duly authorized agent, may administer oaths and may issue subpoenas for the attendance of witnesses and the production of relevant books and papers, and may require a reexamination of the person. At the hearing, the Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources, or duly authorized agent, shall either rescind its order of suspension or, upon good cause shown, may continue, modify, or extend the suspension or revoke the certification or operating privilege of the person. If the certification or operating privilege has been suspended as a result of the person's operation while under the influence of alcohol, the commissioner or agent conducting the hearing shall take into account, among other relevant factors, the person's successful completion of any duly established waterway intoxication seminar, "DUI counterattack course," or similar educational program designed for problem drinking operators. If the hearing is conducted by a duly authorized agent instead of by the Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources, the action of the agent shall first be approved by the Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources prior to implementation.

(m) At the end of the period of suspension, a certification surrendered to the Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources under subsection (n) shall be returned to the person.

(n) The Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources upon cancelling, suspending, or revoking a certification shall require that proof of certification and any duplicates be surrendered to and be retained by the Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources. Any person whose certification has been cancelled, suspended, or revoked shall immediately return the certification and any duplicates to the Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources. If the person refuses to surrender the certification, the person shall be guilty of a Class C misdemeanor punishable as provided by law.

(o) Any resident or nonresident whose certification or privilege to operate a vessel in this state has been suspended or revoked, as provided in this section, shall not operate a vessel in this state under a certification, or other approved valid document issued by any other jurisdiction or otherwise during the suspension or after revocation until a new Alabama certification or privilege is obtained as permitted under this article.

(p) Any person denied a certification or whose certification or operating privilege has been cancelled, suspended, or revoked by the Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources, except where cancellation, suspension, or revocation is mandatory under this article, shall have the right to file a petition within 30 days for a hearing in the matter in the circuit court in the county wherein the person resides, or in the case of cancellation, suspension, or revocation of a nonresident's certification or operating privilege in the county in which the main office of the Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources is located, and the circuit court is vested with jurisdiction for hearing the petitions for certification or operating privilege. The circuit court shall set the matter for hearing upon 30 days' written notice to the Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources and take testimony, examine the facts of the case, and determine whether the petitioner is entitled to a certification or operating privilege under this section or is subject to suspension, cancellation, or revocation.

(Acts 1994, No. 94-652, p. 1243, §29.)