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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>85781</law_id><section_number>29.1-733.14</section_number><catch_line>Effect of possession of certificate of title; judicial process; levy; penalty</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="29.1">Wildlife, Inland Fisheries and Boating</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="7">Boating Laws</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="2.1">Virginia Uniform Certificate of Title for Watercraft Act</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> <span class="dictionary">Possession</span> of a <span class="dictionary">certificate of title</span> does not by itself provide a right to obtain <span class="dictionary">possession</span> of a <span class="dictionary">watercraft</span>. <span class="dictionary">Garnishment</span>, <span class="dictionary">attachment</span>, <span class="dictionary">levy</span>, replevin, or other judicial process against the certificate is not effective to determine possessory rights to the <span class="dictionary">watercraft</span>. This article does not prohibit enforcement under <span class="dictionary">law</span> of the Commonwealth other than this article of a <span class="dictionary">security interest</span> in, <span class="dictionary">levy</span> on, or foreclosure of a statutory or common-<span class="dictionary">law</span> <span class="dictionary">lien</span> on a <span class="dictionary">watercraft</span>. Absence of an indication of a statutory or common-<span class="dictionary">law</span> <span class="dictionary">lien</span> on a certificate does not invalidate the <span class="dictionary">lien</span>. <a id="paragraph-307215" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/29.1-733.14/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> A <span class="dictionary">levy</span> made by virtue of an execution, fieri facias, or other proper <span class="dictionary">court order</span>, upon a <span class="dictionary">watercraft</span> for which a <span class="dictionary">certificate of title</span> has been issued by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span>, shall constitute a <span class="dictionary">lien</span>, when the officer making the <span class="dictionary">levy</span> reports to the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> at its principal office, on forms provided by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span>, that the <span class="dictionary">levy</span> has been made and that the <span class="dictionary">vessel</span> levied upon is in the <span class="dictionary">custody</span> of the officer. Should the <span class="dictionary">lien</span> thereafter be satisfied or should the <span class="dictionary">vessel</span> levied upon and seized thereafter be released by the officer, he shall immediately report that <span class="dictionary">fact</span> to the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> at its principal office. Any <span class="dictionary">owner</span> who, after such <span class="dictionary">levy</span> and seizure by an officer and before the report is made by the officer to the <span class="dictionary">Department</span>, fraudulently assigns or transfers his title to or interest in the <span class="dictionary">watercraft</span>, or causes the <span class="dictionary">certificate of title</span> to be assigned or transferred, or causes a <span class="dictionary">security interest</span> to be shown upon such <span class="dictionary">certificate of title</span>, is guilty of a Class 1 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span>. <a id="paragraph-307216" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/29.1-733.14/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2013, c. 787.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
