94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2005 and 2006
HB2399

 

Introduced 2/16/2005, by Rep. Ron Stephens

 

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 a person may not operate a motorboat that has in tow or is otherwise assisting a person on water skis, an aquaplane, or a similar contrivance in or upon any waterway, unless (i) there is in the motor boat a person, in addition to the operator, in a position to observe the progress of the person being towed or (ii) the operator is at least 25 years of age and the motor boat is equipped with a ski mirror approved by the Department of Natural Resources. Provides that the Director of Natural Resources must adopt rules for implementing the mirror requirement.


LRB094 10691 DRH 41080 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB2399 LRB094 10691 DRH 41080 b

1     AN ACT concerning transportation.
 
2     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
 
4     Section 5. The Boat Registration and Safety Act is amended
5 by changing Section 5-14 as follows:
 
6     (625 ILCS 45/5-14)   (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 315-9)
7     Sec. 5-14. Water Skiing.
8     A. No person may operate a motorboat that has in tow or is
9 otherwise assisting a person on water skis, an aquaplane, or a
10 similar contrivance in or upon any waterway, unless the
11 motorboat has a capacity of at least 3 persons and is occupied
12 by at least 2 competent persons.
13     A-1. A person may not operate a motorboat that has in tow
14 or is otherwise assisting a person on water skis, an aquaplane,
15 or a similar contrivance in or upon any waterway, unless (i)
16 there is in the motorboat a person, in addition to the
17 operator, in a position to observe the progress of the person
18 being towed or (ii) the operator is at least 25 years of age
19 and the motorboat is equipped with a ski mirror approved by the
20 Department, mounted in a location inside the motorboat allowing
21 the operator to observe the progress of the person being towed
22 while also safely and legally operating the motorboat. The
23 mirror shall be of a type that recurves and reflects 180
24 degrees of vision. The reflecting portion of the mirror must be
25 no less than 3 inches in height and 8 inches in width.
26     The Director of Natural Resources shall adopt rules for
27 implementing the mirror requirement of this subsection A-1.
28     B. No person may operate a motorboat having in tow or
29 otherwise be assisting a person on water skis, aquaplane or
30 similar contrivance from the period of one-half hour after
31 sunset to one-half hour before sunrise. This paragraph B does
32 not apply to motorboats used in duly authorized water ski

 

 

HB2399 - 2 - LRB094 10691 DRH 41080 b

1 tournaments, competitions, exhibitions or trials therefor
2 where adequate lighting is provided.
3     C. All persons operating a motorboat having in tow or
4 otherwise assisting a person on water skis, aquaplane or
5 similar contrivance, must be careful and prudent in their
6 operation and keep at a reasonable distance from persons and
7 property so as not to endanger the life or property of any
8 person.
9     D. No person may operate or manipulate any vessel, tow rope
10 or other device by which the direction or location of water
11 skis, aquaplane, or similar device may be affected or
12 controlled in such a way as to cause the water skis, aquaplane,
13 or similar device, or any persons thereon to collide with or
14 strike against any person or object, except ski jumps, buoys
15 and like objects normally used in competitive or recreational
16 skiing.
17 (Source: P.A. 90-412, eff. 1-1-98.)