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Just as with driving a motor vehicle, when you operate the appropriate classed vessel you must carry your boater certificate (quasi license) with you. If you don't have it you can be issued a citation. But if you produce it within 48 hours your citation is null and void.

There is no statute that requires you to carry a photo ID. However, having one readily available can make the stop much quicker if the officer has a reliable way to identify you.

When they pull away they have two main ways to run your status and, in many cases, see if you are wanted. When in radio range they can call it in, or in many cases where coverage is spotty, they simply call dispatch via cell.

There are a variety of ways to try and identify you whether via social security number, height, weight, hair and eye color and age by having dispatch check the appropriate data bases. The ability to transmit license data with photo is still in experimental stages here in NH. However an officer with a broadband connected laptop and the appropriate CAD (law enforcement software) can directly query the State Police data base for license, registration and wanted/warrant status.