Renew boat tabs now for more time out on the water | The Olympian

The Thurston County Auditor’s Office has launched a “Beat the Rush” campaign to promote early boat registration renewals.

In Washington, boat registrations expire June 30, but renewals can be purchased anytime after Jan. 1. Thurston County always sees an uptick renewals as the deadline approaches or passes, especially around the Fourth of July weekend, according to Auditor Mary Hall.

Hall wants boat owners to know that they can skip the long lines and renew now through the Department of Licensing’s website, dol.wa.gov. Boat tabs also are available at local licensing subagencies and the Auditor’s Office in the Thurston County Courthouse Complex, 2000 Lakeridge Drive SW, Building One, Room 106, Olympia.

“Renewing has never been easier,” Hall said in a news release. “We want to make sure boat owners understand how they can renew their boat registrations and why it’s best to renew well before the deadline.”

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In 2016, Thurston County issued 8,091 boat registrations. About 38 percent of those were renewed after the June 30 deadline, county officials say.

Owners caught driving a boat with an expired registration can get slapped with a $125 ticket.