98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2013 and 2014
SB2665
 
Introduced 1/21/2014, by Sen. Pamela J. Althoff
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 

 



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

     Amends the Boat Registration and Safety Act. Requires  operators of a watercraft towing a person or persons to display purple flags on their watercraft. Requires this flag to be displayed at the highest point of the boat's helm.  Effective January 1, 2015.
  


LRB098 15078 MLW 50042 b

 
 
A BILL FOR
 

  
SB2665LRB098 15078 MLW 50042 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. Water Skiing. 

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 
 
 
SB2665- 2 -LRB098 15078 MLW 50042 b

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 is towing a person 
12or persons shall display on the watercraft a bright or 
13brilliant purple flag measuring not less than 12 inches per 
14side.  The flag shall be displayed at the highest point of the 
15area surrounding the boat's helm as to be visible from all 
16directions, continuously, while the person or persons being 
17towed depart the boat in preparation for towing and until 
18reentry into the boat when the activity has ceased.  Display of 
19the flag for purposes other than the activity described in this 
20Section is prohibited. 
21(Source: P.A. 90-412, eff. 1-1-98.)

  
 
22    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect January 
231, 2015.