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| Public Act 097-0801 | ||||
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AN ACT concerning transportation.
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Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
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represented in the General Assembly:
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Section 5. The Boat Registration and Safety Act is amended | ||||
by changing Section 4-1 as follows:
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(625 ILCS 45/4-1) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 314-1)
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Sec. 4-1. Personal flotation devices.
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A. No person may operate a watercraft
unless at least one | ||||
U.S. Coast Guard approved PFD of the following types or
their | ||||
equivalent is on board for each person: Type I, Type II or Type | ||||
III.
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B. No person may operate a personal watercraft or specialty | ||||
prop-craft
unless each person aboard is wearing a Type I, Type | ||||
II, Type III or Type V
PFD approved by the United States Coast | ||||
Guard.
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C. No person may operate a watercraft 16 feet or more in | ||||
length,
except a canoe or kayak, unless at least one Type IV | ||||
U.S. Coast Guard
approved PFD or its equivalent is on board in | ||||
addition to the PFD's
required in paragraph A of this Section.
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D. A U.S. Coast Guard approved Type V personal flotation | ||||
device may be
carried in lieu of the Type I, II, III or IV | ||||
personal flotation device
required in this Section, if the Type | ||||
V personal flotation device is
approved for the activity in | ||||
which it is being used.
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E. When assisting a person on waterskis, aquaplane or | ||
similar
device, there must be one U.S. Coast Guard approved PFD | ||
on
board the watercraft for each person being assisted or towed | ||
or worn
by the person being assisted or towed.
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F. No person may operate a watercraft unless each device | ||
required by
this Section is:
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1. Readily accessible;
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2. In serviceable condition;
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3. Of the appropriate size for the person for whom it | ||
is intended;
and
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4. Legibly marked with the U.S. Coast Guard approval | ||
number.
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G. Approved personal flotation devices are defined as | ||
follows:
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Type I - A Type I personal flotation device is an | ||
approved device
designed to turn an unconscious person in | ||
the water from a face downward
position to a vertical or | ||
slightly backward position and to have more
than 20 pounds | ||
of buoyancy.
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Type II - A Type II personal flotation device is an | ||
approved device
designed to turn an unconscious person in | ||
the water from a face downward
position to a vertical or | ||
slightly backward position and to have at
least 15 1/2 | ||
pounds of buoyancy.
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Type III - A Type III personal flotation device is an | ||
approved device
designed to keep a conscious person in a | ||
vertical or slightly backward
position and to have at least | ||
15 1/2 pounds of buoyancy.
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Type IV - A Type IV personal flotation device is an | ||
approved device
designed to be thrown to a person in the | ||
water and not worn. It is
designed to have at least 16 1/2 | ||
pounds of buoyancy.
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Type V - A Type V personal flotation device is an | ||
approved device for
restricted use and is acceptable only | ||
when used in the activity for which
it is approved.
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H. The provisions of subsections A through G of
this | ||
Section shall not apply to sailboards sailboats.
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I. No person may operate a watercraft under 26 feet in | ||
length unless a
Type I, Type II, Type III,
or Type V personal | ||
flotation device is being properly worn by each person
under
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the age of 13 on board the watercraft at all times in which the | ||
watercraft is
underway; however, this requirement shall not | ||
apply to persons who are below
decks or in totally enclosed | ||
cabin spaces.
The provisions of this subsection I shall not | ||
apply to a person operating a
watercraft on private property.
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(Source: P.A. 90-411, eff. 1-1-98.)
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