Public Act 90-0411 of the 90th General Assembly
Public Act 90-0411
SB495 Enrolled LRB9000543NTsb
AN ACT to amend the Boat Registration and Safety Act by
changing Section 4-1.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Boat Registration and Safety Act is
amended by changing Section 4-1 as follows:
(625 ILCS 45/4-1) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 314-1)
Sec. 4-1. Personal flotation devices.
A. No person may operate a watercraft unless at least
one U.S. Coast Guard approved PFD of the following types or
their equivalent is on board for each person: Type I, Type
II or Type III.
B. No person may operate a personal watercraft or
specialty prop-craft unless each person aboard is wearing a
Type I, Type II, Type III or Type V PFD approved by the
United States Coast Guard.
C. No person may operate a watercraft 16 feet or more in
length, except a canoe or kayak, unless at least one Type IV
U.S. Coast Guard approved PFD or its equivalent is on board
in addition to the PFD's required in paragraph A of this
Section.
D. A U.S. Coast Guard approved Type V personal flotation
device may be carried in lieu of the Type I, II, III or IV
personal flotation device required in this Section, if the
Type V personal flotation device is approved for the activity
in which it is being used.
E. When assisting a person on waterskis, aquaplane or
similar device, there must be one U.S. Coast Guard approved
PFD on board the watercraft for each person being assisted or
towed or worn by the person being assisted or towed.
F. No person may operate a watercraft unless each device
required by this Section is:
1. Readily accessible;
2. In serviceable condition;
3. Of the appropriate size for the person for whom
it is intended; and
4. Legibly marked with the U.S. Coast Guard
approval number.
G. Approved personal flotation devices are defined as
follows:
Type I - A Type I personal flotation device is an
approved device designed to turn an unconscious person in
the water from a face downward position to a vertical or
slightly backward position and to have more than 20
pounds of buoyancy.
Type II - A Type II personal flotation device is an
approved device designed to turn an unconscious person in
the water from a face downward position to a vertical or
slightly backward position and to have at least 15 1/2
pounds of buoyancy.
Type III - A Type III personal flotation device is
an approved device designed to keep a conscious person in
a vertical or slightly backward position and to have at
least 15 1/2 pounds of buoyancy.
Type IV - A Type IV personal flotation device is an
approved device designed to be thrown to a person in the
water and not worn. It is designed to have at least 16
1/2 pounds of buoyancy.
Type V - A Type V personal flotation device is an
approved device for restricted use and is acceptable only
when used in the activity for which it is approved.
H. The provisions of subsections A through G of this
Section shall not apply to sailboats.
I. No person may operate a watercraft under 26 feet in
length unless a Type I, Type II, Type III, or Type V personal
flotation device is being properly worn by each person under
the age of 13 on board the watercraft at all times in which
the watercraft is underway; however, this requirement shall
not apply to persons who are below decks or in totally
enclosed cabin spaces. The provisions of this subsection I
shall not apply to a person operating a watercraft on private
property.
(Source: P.A. 87-391; 87-798; 87-895.)