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
 

  
SB2270LRB101 12947 TAE 62188 b


  
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.)