Find Wyoming watercraft inspections here: You are coming into Montana from out-of-state. A typical watercraft inspection consists of a boater interview, an inspection and decontamination (if necessary). Plan ahead and get your watercraft inspected prior to launching if: AIS Bureau, Montana FWP FWP inspectors will be friendly, polite and courteous at all times, making the inspection process as pleasant and informative as possible. All watercraft entering Montana are required to be inspected for aquatic invasive species. Boat owners transporting watercraft with ballast tanks or bladders will undergo additional cleaning at watercraft inspection stations to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. They must pass an inspection before entering any Montana waters. Watercraft inspection stations serve to inform the public of the threat of AIS and to physically inspect vessels for aquatic invasive species. 2019 Annual Watercraft Inspections Report, http://invasivespecies.idaho.gov/watercraft-inspection-stations, https://wgfd.wyo.gov/Fishing-and-Boating/Aquatic-Invasive-Species-Prevention, Whitefish Lake City Beach Prevention/Decon. One tip, leave the bilge plug out until you reach the boat ramp to allow your boat to drain thoroughly. Please make sure your MT Boat Number is formatted like "MT1234AB" (all caps no spaces). Decontamination is required for boats coming into Montana from out-of-state or when traveling west across the Continental Divide into the Columbia River Basin. You are launching anywhere within the Flathead Basin and your watercraft last launched on waters outside of the Flathead Basin. Donate Licenses to Veterans & Armed Forces, Types of Licenses & Permits with Costs Home, Upland Game Bird Enhancement Program Home, Landowner's Guide to Montana FWP Landowner Programs, Development, Improvements, and Enhancements, Fishing & Waterbody Restrictions, Closures & Reopenings, Recreational Shooting Species< Out-of-state boats must be inspected prior to launch on Montana waters. Carry the Card: Vessel operators who are required to have a Boater Education Card must carry the card on board the vessel and have it available for inspection by an enforcement officer. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) is currently offering free boat inspections at its regional headquarters in Kalispell, 490 N. Meridian near the fairgrounds. This includes watercraft that originate both in-state and out-of-state. Craig McLane, AIS detection and monitoring coordinator, said field crews did not find mussel populations this year after surveying more than 1,900 sites across the state. VIN inspections in Montana are overseen by the Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) under the state Department of Justice (DOJ). The certificate of number must be carried on board the boat and be available for inspection whenever the boat is in operation. Opening dates for all inspection stations will vary depending on location, boat traffic and risk of transporting aquatic invasive species. Certified boaters must still follow the terms of their contract; they are required to get an inspection if they are travelling to another waterbody. Boat inspection stations: what they are doing to keep you and Montana waters safe More From KPAX Missoula, MT UP NEXT Stop at ALL open inspection stations you encounter in Montana where your watercraft may be re-inspected. A Montana VIN check (or vehicle identification number check) verifies the description of a motor vehicle prior to titling a vehicle in the state.. Additionally, vehicles must undergo a VIN number inspection in Montana if a car owner needs to correct inaccurate information … If you do not encounter a Montana watercraft inspection station while traveling, inspections conducted in Idaho and Wyoming fulfill Montana’s inspection-before-launch requirements. The Montana Legislature passed a law requiring watercraft with ballast tanks or bladders to be decontaminated before launching on Montana waters. As of May 30, inspectors have caught 12 boats with invasive zebra or quagga mussels and one boat with red rim melania snails attached to watercraft. The watercraft inspection station south of Dillon on Interstate 15 opens on March 31. Boater must carry a proof of inspection receipt and, when applicable, a seal. This includes watercraft that originate both in-state and out-of-state. Certified boater ramps will remain open ONLY to certified boaters. 2. With the many fishing tournaments coming up this summer ALL boaters are reminded to stop at ALL watercraft inspection stations. National Park Service. A release from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks says the boat was from Chicago and heading to Seattle. Boater must carry a proof of inspection receipt and, when applicable, a seal. /a>, See full list of station hours and locations at, ArcGIS Regional Watercraft Inspection Station Viewer, Proximity to known AIS locations/main thoroughfares. In addition to your MT boat registration form, HIN inspection certificate and payment for registration fees, you will need to show one acceptable proof of ownership. However, Montana will accept a prior inspection conducted in Idaho or Wyoming. Transporting a clean and dry watercraft will allow you to quickly move thorugh the inspection process. If you have an outboard engine, lower the outdrive on the engine to release any residual water. In addition, non-resident watercraft launching in Montana must first obtain a Vessel AIS Prevention Pass. Vehicle/Vessel/OHV Title and Registration Bureau Identification Number Inspection Certificate ly Swimming from boat while underway. Watercraft inspections are a way of intercepting vessels and equipment that have the potential to spread aquatic invasive species (AIS), and to decontaminate them (if necessary) before launching into Montana waters. If you arrive prepared, inspections should take only a few minutes. These inspection stations are generally manned by two trained inspectors. Out-of-state boats must be inspected prior to launch on Montana waters. Boat Registration in Montana. Early season boat inspections have begun in the northwest corner of Montana in an effort to block aquatic invasive species. Registration fees are based on the length and age of the vessel. Remember, this includes As of May 30, inspectors have caught 12 boats with invasive zebra or quagga mussels and one boat with red rim melania snails attached to watercraft. All watercraft should be clean, drained, and dry before inspection (see detailed boat inspection standards below) Non-trailered boats with electric trolling motors may launch on Lake McDonald, Bowman, Two Medicine, St. Mary, Sherburne, and Swiftcurrent Lakes without a 30-day dry time because the air-cooled motors are classified as lower risk Phone: (406) 444-2440. 3. Thomas Woolf, the FWP Aquatic Invasive Species Bureau Chief, said boat inspection sites … Invaders like quagga and zebra mussels can impair lake ecosystems and rack up costly damages to irrigation, city water and hydroelectric systems. 1. However, boat inspection stops are taking extra precautions to protect boaters and themselves. What Alternative Inspection Programs Does This Port Accept?CBP Reporting Offsite Arrival – Mobile (ROAM)Canadian Border Boat Landing Permit Program (I-68)Verified Traveler (including LBO, SVRS, and I-68 numbers)NEXUS ProgramPleasure boaters in Goat Haunt, MT (Glacier National Park) may use the CBP ROAM app to report their entry.CBP Reporting Offsite Arrival - Mobile (ROAM)The CLEAN, DRAIN, DRY your watercraft prior to arrival at a watercraft inspection station. Riding the gunwales, transom, or foredeck while boat is moving faster than five mph. Helena, MT 59620 If your vessel doesn't have a hull identification number (HIN), PRIOR to submitting a title and registration application you'll need to: Head to a Fish, Wildlife and Parks regional office to obtain a valid HIN. Dispose of all plants and animals away from lakes or rivers. Know your local fishing regulations. This can be a manufacturer’s certificate of origin (MCO), a properly assigned title with bill of sale attached, or the vessel’s current out-of-state title or registration card. Nonresidents. What to expect at a watercraft inspection station Watercraft inspection stations serve to inform the public of the threat of AIS and to physically inspect vessels for aquatic invasive species. Drain your bilge, ballast tanks, live wells, and any storage compartments. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks reports record breaking boat inspection numbers across the state, including an uptick in out-of-state visitors recreating in state waters. The following information can be found on your registration paperwork. Montana’s new hotline for reporting suspected feral swine brought an uptick in reports this year, while boat inspectors both checked a record number of watercraft and documented a … Montana watercraft inspection stations have intercepted 13 boats carrying invasive mollusks into the state this year. It is prohibited in some areas to be in possession of live fish/bait. "Also for Montana, an inspection before launch is required too, so if a Montana resident is purchasing a boat and bringing it to Montana it has to be inspected before it goes in the water." Less than 15 years of age with an out-of-state or Montana salvage certificate Note: Stage III VIN inspections are not required on non-motorized trailers. In addition, all watercraft entering Montana are required to be inspected for aquatic invasive species and must obtain an inspection before launching on Montana waters. To Find a watercraft inspection station and to learn more, go to CleanDrainDryMT.com or call the FWP Aquatic Invasive Species Bureau at 406-444-2440. 4. Inspection stations and roving crews will be operating throughout the boating season in these locations: Billings, Bozeman, Clearwater Junction, Culbertson on U.S. Highway 2 … HELENA – State wildlife officials are setting up boat inspection checkpoints to try to prevent aquatic invasive species from entering Montana’s waterways. Inspectors at the Ravalli watercraft station, operated by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, found adult zebra mussels clinging to the boat. MV20 (10/12) Upon request, this form can be made available in an alternate format. The interview consists of questions relating to boater origin and movement, water user type, live bait usage, knowledge of AIS, cleaning methods, cleaning frequency, and number of launches per year. Several watercraft inspection stations in southwest Montana will soon open for the 2019 boating season. The boat … Boat Validation Decals. Wednesday, June 3, 2020. The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes plan to open the Ravalli watercraft inspection station on Highway 200 on Friday and a third station in Browning is expected to open later in March. The inspection found adult zebra mussels attached to the boat, according to a press release from Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. Data collected at watercraft inspection stations also provide valuable information on boater movement, cleaning habits, and bait use while providing information and education about invasive species to the public. If you do not encounter a Montana watercraft inspection station while traveling, inspections conducted in Idaho and Wyoming fulfill Montana’s inspection-before-launch requirements. Please check your information carefully. Last year, the state had 47 boat inspection and decontamination stations, 34 of them operated by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Inspection stations are the first line of defense to stop the spread of aquatic invasive species. Before you launch in Montana or Wyoming, make sure you have followed the Drain, Clean, and Dry procedure. Interfere… Failure to follow these steps will result in a longer inspection. The other issue boat inspectors have been struggling with is a requirement to inspect and decontaminate all larger boats with ballast tanks or bladders. The inspection consists of a boater interview, a watercraft inspection and decontamination (if necessary). Invasive mussels: Montana’s busy boat inspection stations see delays, illegal drive-bys. Boats that are properly registered in another state or country may operate in Montana for up to 90 consecutive days. Homemade Vessels 1420 East Sixth Avenue You are traveling west over the Continental Divide into western Montana (the Columbia River Basin). All of the following fields are required and must be completed exactly the same as printed on your registration. Montana watercraft inspection stations have intercepted 13 boats carrying invasive mollusks into the state this year. Each spring, watercraft inspection station locations are selected based on several factors including: FWP Watercraft Inspectors are seasonal employees, trained to give you the best most efficient inspection possible. The interview consists of questions relating to boater origin and movement, water user type, live bait usage, knowledge of AIS, cleaning methods, cleaning frequency, and number of launches per year. Commercial Vehicle Operator Licensing (CVOL) examiners, driver licensing regional managers and motor vehicle compliance specialists are authorized to perform Stage III VIN inspections. These stations help boaters meet state laws in … The station will be open on weekends until mid-April then it will be open 7 days a week. Montana county and state authorities reserve the right to reject any form that has been altered. Montana law enforcement officers patrol the waterways to make your boating experience safe and pleasant. Cooperate with them by following the laws and guidelines. To protect Montana’s waters and native aquatic species, please follow these rules and guidelines: ALL watercraft (motorized and nonmotorized) must stop at ALL watercraft inspection stations you encounter. Reckless/negligent boat handling that endangers or is likely to endanger the lives of others. 5. Boat owners and renters can bring their watercraft to be inspected at the FWP office in Kalispell seven days a week starting this Wednesday. 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