A crackdown begun last year on out-of-state boaters who have not paid their Indiana excise tax has wended its way to courts and numerous boaters have found themselves fined.

According to a statement released on Thursday by Indiana Conservation Officer Shawn Brown, in September 2008 an extensive enforcement effort targeting motorboat excise violations observed on craft moored at the Hammond and East Chicago marinas led to more than 300 boaters being cited.

Out-of-state boaters are required to pay the Indiana excise tax if they have a contractual agreement with a marina, which allows them to comply with Indiana law while maintaining their out-of-state registration. Over three years ago, Brown said, conservation officers began an educational campaign, provided marinas with boating law booklets, spoke to boating clubs, and posted notices at marinas.

Of the 300 boaters cited for excise violation, between 150 and 200 refused to comply, contested, or failed to respond to the citation notice, Brown said. Others appeared at Lowell Town Court for an initial hearing in February, when over 50 boaters paid their fine while others opted for a bench trial.

At the trial in March, Brown said, Judge Vanes of the Lowell Town Court found most of the boaters cited to be in violation and ordered them to pay a fine and court costs, and Vanes set a default judgment of $500 in fines for the more than 89 boaters who did not appear or who failed to pay the initial fine for the infraction. Vanes also ordered a suspension of their driver’s licenses if they ignored the citation, Brown said, and if those boaters are found to be operating a vehicle or motorboat they will be cited for driving while suspended and could have their vehicle towed.

“Boat owners were duly advised of the laws pertaining to the excise requirements,” Conservation Offic-er Guy Wendorf said. “We will continue enforcement on excise violations and other violations on Lake Michigan and inland lakes of Northwest Indiana. Safety and prudent motorboat operation on the lakes are our primary concerns. Other objectives are to bring boaters into compliance with not only the excise laws but all state boating laws.”