(625 ILCS 45/Art. IV heading)
ARTICLE IV.
MOTORBOAT EQUIPMENT
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(625 ILCS 45/4-1) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 314-1)
Sec. 4-1. Personal flotation devices.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
F. No person may operate a watercraft unless each device required by
this Section is:
1. Readily accessible;
2. In serviceable condition;
3. Of the appropriate size for the person for whom it
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4. Legibly marked with the U.S. Coast Guard approval
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G. Approved personal flotation devices are defined as follows:
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.
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
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.
J. Racing shells, rowing sculls, racing canoes, and racing kayaks are exempt from the PFD, of any type, carriage requirements under this Section provided that the racing shell, racing scull, racing canoe, or racing kayak is participating in an event sanctioned by the Department as a PFD optional event. The Department may adopt rules to implement this subsection.
(Source: P.A. 97-801, eff. 1-1-13; 98-567, eff. 1-1-14.)
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(625 ILCS 45/4-2) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 314-2)
Sec. 4-2.
Lights.
A. It is unlawful to operate any vessel less than 39 feet in length unless
the following lights are carried and displayed when underway from sunset to
sunrise:
1. A bright, white light after to show all around the
| | horizon, visible for a distance of 2 miles. The word "visible" as used herein means visible on a dark night with clear atmosphere.
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2. A combination light in the forepart of the boat
| | lower than the white light after, showing green to starboard and red to port, so fixed as to throw a light from dead ahead to 2 points abaft the beam on their respective sides and visible for a distance of not less than 1 mile.
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3. Lights under International Rules may be shown as
| | an alternative to the above requirements.
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B. Watercraft propelled by muscular power when underway shall carry on
board from sunset to sunrise, but not fixed to any part of the boat, a
lantern or flashlight capable of showing a white light visible all around
the horizon at a distance of 2 miles or more, and shall display such
lantern in sufficient time to avoid collision with another watercraft.
C. Every vessel 39 feet or more in length shall carry and display when
underway such additional or alternate lights as shall be required by the U.
S. Coast Guard for watercraft of equivalent length and type.
D. Sailboats equipped with motors and being propelled partly or solely
by such motors shall carry and display the same lights required for
motorboats of the same class. Sailboats being propelled entirely by sail
between sunset and sunrise shall have lighted the combination running light,
and a white light visible aft only. Sailboats 26 feet or more in length,
equipped with motors but being propelled entirely by sail between sunset and
sunrise, shall have lighted the colored side lights suitably screened, but not
the white lights prescribed for motorboats.
E. Dinghies, tenders and other watercraft, whose principal function is
as an auxiliary to other larger watercraft, when so operating need carry
only a flashlight visible to other craft in the area, anything in this
section to the contrary notwithstanding.
F. Vessels at anchor between the hours of sunset and sunrise, except
those in a "Special Anchorage Area", shall display such anchor lights as
shall be required by the U. S. Coast Guard for watercraft of equivalent
length and type.
G. Watercraft operated manually or by motor which are located on bodies
of water where motors of over 7 1/2 horsepower are prohibited must be
equipped during the hours between sunset and sunrise with a lantern or
flashlight which is capable of showing a beam for 2 miles, anything in this
Section to the contrary notwithstanding.
(Source: P.A. 88-524.)
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(625 ILCS 45/4-3) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 314-3)
Sec. 4-3.
Mufflers.
A. All motorboats shall be equipped and maintained with an effective
muffler or underwater exhaust system. For the purpose of this Section, an
effective muffler or underwater exhaust system is one that does not produce
sound levels that create excessive or unusual noise, or sound levels that
are in excess of 90 decibels when subjected to a stationary sound level
test as prescribed by the Society of Automotive Engineers in its procedure
J2005.
B. No person may operate a motorboat on the waters of this State in a
manner to exceed a noise level of 75 decibels measured as specified in the
Society of Automotive Engineers in its procedure J1970 from any point on
the shoreline, or from any point on the water within 20 feet of the
shoreline, of the body of water on which the motorboat is being operated.
C. No person may manufacture or offer for sale any motorboat for use on
the waters of this State if that motorboat cannot be operated in compliance
with the sound levels in subsections A and B above.
D. The provisions of this Section shall apply to all public waters over
which the State has jurisdiction.
E. This Section does not apply to:
(1) a motorboat tuning up for or participating in
| | official trials for a sanctioned race or regatta conducted as authorized by the appropriate unit of government, or
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(2) a motorboat being operated by a boat or marine
| | engine manufacturer for the purpose of testing or development as authorized by the appropriate unit of government.
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F. Any person violating subsection A or B of this Section shall be
required to:
(1) install an effective muffler system on the
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(2) pass the sound level test prescribed by the
| | Society of Automotive Engineers in its procedure J2005 before putting the motorboat back into use; and
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(3) be subject to a Class B misdemeanor for the first
| | offense and a Class A misdemeanor for any subsequent offense occurring within 3 years of the date of the most recent offense.
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G. Any person violating subsection C of this Section shall be required to:
(1) install an effective muffler system on the
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(2) pass the sound level test prescribed by the
| | Society of Automotive Engineers in its procedure J2005 before putting the motorboat back into use; and
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(3) be subject to a Class A misdemeanor for the first
| | offense and a Class 4 felony for any subsequent offense.
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H. Any person who operates any motorboat upon the waters of this State
shall be deemed to have given consent to the test or tests as may be
prescribed in this Section or by the Department to determine if the
motorboat is in compliance with the provisions of this Section.
(Source: P.A. 87-391; 87-422; 87-895.)
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(625 ILCS 45/4-4) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 314-4)
Sec. 4-4.
Whistles.)
It is unlawful to operate a motorboat without a
mouth, hand or power operated whistle, horn or other appliance, capable of
producing a blast of 2 seconds or more duration and audible for at least
one-half mile.
(Source: P.A. 82-783.)
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(625 ILCS 45/4-5) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 314-5)
Sec. 4-5.
Fire extinguisher.
It is unlawful to operate a motorboat
equipped with an internal combustion engine anywhere
in this State without at least one U. S. Coast Guard approved fire
extinguisher, so placed as to be readily accessible and in such condition as to be ready
for immediate and effective use.
(Source: P.A. 85-149.)
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(625 ILCS 45/4-6) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 314-6)
Sec. 4-6.
Carburetor arrestors.
Carburetors on all engines of motorboats other than those propelled by a
detachable outboard motor shall be fitted with or protected by a U. S.
Coast Guard approved device for arresting backfire.
(Source: P.A. 82-783.)
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(625 ILCS 45/4-7) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 314-7)
Sec. 4-7.
Ventilators.
Except for open boats, all motorboats which use fuel having a flashpoint
of 110 degrees Fahrenheit or less shall have at least 2 ventilator ducts,
fitted with cowls or their equivalent, for the efficient removal of
explosive or flammable gases from the bilges of every engine and fuel tank
compartment. There shall be at least one exhaust duct installed so as to
extend from the open atmosphere to the lower portion of the bilge and at
least one intake duct installed so as to extend to a point at least midway
to the bilge or at least below the level of the carburetor air intake. The
cowls shall be located and trimmed for maximum effectiveness and in such a
manner so as to prevent displaced fumes from being recirculated.
(Source: P.A. 82-783.)
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(625 ILCS 45/4-8) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 314-8)
Sec. 4-8.
Sirens and flashing lights.
(a) Except as provided in this Section, it shall be unlawful for any person
to use a watercraft equipped with a siren or any red or blue oscillating,
rotating, or flashing light. The use of a siren or light in violation of this
Section shall constitute a public nuisance subject to confiscation and disposal
as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.
(b) Any authorized emergency watercraft described in subsection (c) or (d)
may be equipped with a siren, but the siren shall not be used except when the
watercraft is operating in response to an emergency call or in the immediate
pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law.
(c) The use of blue oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights, whether
lighted or unlighted, is prohibited except on law enforcement watercraft of
State, federal, or local authorities.
(d) The use of red oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights, whether
lighted or unlighted, is prohibited except on fire, rescue, or other emergency
watercraft as authorized by State, federal, or local authorities having
jurisdiction, provided the watercraft are clearly identifiable as such; the
lights shall not be lighted except when responding to an emergency call or
while actually engaged in a hazardous situation.
(e) The use of any other color of oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights,
whether lighted or unlighted, is prohibited except as authorized by the
Department.
(Source: P.A. 88-524.)
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(625 ILCS 45/4-9) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 314-9)
Sec. 4-9.
Sealing of marine heads.
No marine head (toilet) on any watercraft
used upon waters of this State may be so constructed and operated as to permit
the discharge of any sewage into the waters directly or indirectly.
(Source: P.A. 88-524.)
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(625 ILCS 45/4-10) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 314-10)
Sec. 4-10.
Battery Covers.
Every motorboat equipped with storage batteries shall be provided with
suitable supports and secured against shifting with the motion of the boat.
Such storage batteries shall be equipped with non-conductive shielding
means to prevent accidental shorting of battery terminals.
(Source: P.A. 82-783.)
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(625 ILCS 45/4-11) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 314-11)
Sec. 4-11. Engine cut-off switch.
(a) As used in this Section:
"Engine cut-off switch link" means the lanyard or wireless cut-off device used to attach the motorboat operator to the engine cut-off switch installed on the motorboat.
"Engine cut-off switch" means an operational emergency cut-off engine stop switch installed on a motorboat that attaches to a motorboat operator by an engine cut-off switch link.
(b) No person may operate any motor
boat, including personal watercraft or specialty prop-craft,
equipped with an engine cut-off switch while the engine is running and the motorboat is underway without verifying that the engine cut-off switch is operational and fully-functional and:
(1) the engine cut-off switch link is properly
| | attached to his or her person, clothing or worn PFD, as appropriate for the specific vessel; or
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| (2) activating the wireless cut-off system.
(Source: P.A. 96-1033, eff. 7-14-10.)
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(625 ILCS 45/4-12)
Sec. 4-12.
Visual distress signals.
It is unlawful to operate any watercraft
on the waters of Lake Michigan without having onboard visual distress signals
as required and approved by the U.S. Coast Guard, so placed as to be readily
accessible and in such condition as to be ready for immediate and effective
use.
(Source: P.A. 88-524.)
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