101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
SB2270

 

Introduced 10/28/2019, by Sen. Chuck Weaver

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
625 ILCS 45/5-14  from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 315-9

    Amends the Boat Registration and Safety Act. Provides that an operator of any watercraft that has a person down in the water (rather than one that is actively towing a person or persons) shall display on the watercraft a bright or brilliant orange flag measuring not less than 12 inches per side. Provides that the flag shall be displayed while the person or persons have fallen off their skies or other towable devices and are in the water (rather than when they are being towed).


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A BILL FOR

 

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1    AN ACT concerning transportation.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Boat Registration and Safety Act is amended
5by changing Section 5-14 as follows:
 
6    (625 ILCS 45/5-14)  (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 315-9)
7    Sec. 5-14. Towing of persons.
8    A. No person may operate a motorboat that has in tow or is
9otherwise assisting a person on water skis, an aquaplane, or a
10similar contrivance in or upon any waterway, unless the
11motorboat has a capacity of at least 3 persons and is occupied
12by at least 2 competent persons.
13    B. No person may operate a motorboat having in tow or
14otherwise be assisting a person on water skis, aquaplane or
15similar contrivance from the period of one-half hour after
16sunset to one-half hour before sunrise. This paragraph B does
17not apply to motorboats used in duly authorized water ski
18tournaments, competitions, exhibitions or trials therefor
19where adequate lighting is provided.
20    C. All persons operating a motorboat having in tow or
21otherwise assisting a person on water skis, aquaplane or
22similar contrivance, must be careful and prudent in their
23operation and keep at a reasonable distance from persons and

 

 

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1property so as not to endanger the life or property of any
2person.
3    D. No person may operate or manipulate any vessel, tow rope
4or other device by which the direction or location of water
5skis, aquaplane, or similar device may be affected or
6controlled in such a way as to cause the water skis, aquaplane,
7or similar device, or any persons thereon to collide with or
8strike against any person or object, except ski jumps, buoys
9and like objects normally used in competitive or recreational
10skiing.
11    E. The operator of any watercraft that has a person down in
12the water is towing a person or persons shall display on the
13watercraft a bright or brilliant orange flag measuring not less
14than 12 inches per side. The flag shall be displayed at the
15highest point of the area surrounding the boat's helm as to be
16visible from all directions, continuously, while the person or
17persons have fallen off their skies or other towable devices
18and are in the water being towed depart the boat in preparation
19for towing and until reentry into the boat when the activity
20has ceased. Display of the flag for purposes other than the
21activity described in this Section is prohibited.
22(Source: P.A. 98-697, eff. 1-1-15.)