HB2399 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB094 10691 DRH 41080 b

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.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning transportation.

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 5-14 as follows:

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

Sec. 5-14. Water Skiing.

A. No person may 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 the motorboat has a capacity of at least 3 persons and is occupied by at least 2 competent persons.

A-1. 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 motorboat 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 motorboat is equipped with a ski mirror approved by the Department, mounted in a location inside the motorboat allowing the operator to observe the progress of the person being towed while also safely and legally operating the motorboat. The mirror shall be of a type that recurves and reflects 180 degrees of vision. The reflecting portion of the mirror must be no less than 3 inches in height and 8 inches in width.

The Director of Natural Resources shall adopt rules for implementing the mirror requirement of this subsection A-1.

B. No person may operate a motorboat having in tow or otherwise be assisting a person on water skis, aquaplane or similar contrivance from the period of one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise. This paragraph B does not apply to motorboats used in duly authorized water ski tournaments, competitions, exhibitions or trials therefor where adequate lighting is provided.

C. All persons operating a motorboat having in tow or otherwise assisting a person on water skis, aquaplane or similar contrivance, must be careful and prudent in their operation and keep at a reasonable distance from persons and property so as not to endanger the life or property of any person.

D. No person may operate or manipulate any vessel, tow rope or other device by which the direction or location of water skis, aquaplane, or similar device may be affected or controlled in such a way as to cause the water skis, aquaplane, or similar device, or any persons thereon to collide with or strike against any person or object, except ski jumps, buoys and like objects normally used in competitive or recreational skiing.

(Source: P.A. 90-412, eff. 1-1-98.)