Bill Text: IL SB2270 | 2019-2020 | 101st General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends the Boat Registration and Safety Act. Provides that an operator of any watercraft that has a person down in the water (rather than one that is actively towing a person or persons) shall display on the watercraft a bright or brilliant orange flag measuring not less than 12 inches per side. Provides that the flag shall be displayed while the person or persons have fallen off their skies or other towable devices and are in the water (rather than when they are being towed).

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2021-01-13 - Session Sine Die [SB2270 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2019-SB2270-Introduced.html

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101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2019 and 2020 SB2270 Introduced 10/28/2019, by Sen. Chuck Weaver 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 an operator of any watercraft that has a person down in the water (rather than one that is actively towing a person or persons) shall display on the watercraft a bright or brilliant orange flag measuring not less than 12 inches per side. Provides that the flag shall be displayed while the person or persons have fallen off their skies or other towable devices and are in the water (rather than when they are being towed).
LRB101 12947 TAE 62188 b
A BILL FOR
SB2270 LRB101 12947 TAE 62188 b
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. Towing of persons.
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.
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

SB2270 - 2 - LRB101 12947 TAE 62188 b
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.
E. The operator of any watercraft that has a person down in
the water is towing a person or persons shall display on the
watercraft a bright or brilliant orange flag measuring not less
than 12 inches per side. The flag shall be displayed at the
highest point of the area surrounding the boat's helm as to be
visible from all directions, continuously, while the person or
persons have fallen off their skies or other towable devices
and are in the water being towed depart the boat in preparation
for towing and until reentry into the boat when the activity
has ceased. Display of the flag for purposes other than the
activity described in this Section is prohibited.
(Source: P.A. 98-697, eff. 1-1-15.)