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(625 ILCS 45/5-13) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 315-8)
Sec. 5-13. Traffic rules. A. The area straight ahead of a vessel to the point that is 22.5 degrees beyond the middle of the vessel on the starboard side of the watercraft shall be designated the danger zone. An operator of a watercraft shall yield the right-of-way to any other watercraft occupying or entering into the danger zone that may result in collision.
A-5. Head-on situation. (1) If 2 power-driven vessels are meeting head-on |
| or nearly head-on courses so as to involve risk of collision, each shall alter course to starboard so that each shall pass on the port side of the other.
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(2) A vessel proceeding along the course of a
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| narrow channel or canal shall keep as near to the outer limit of the channel or canal that lies on the starboard side as is safe and practicable.
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(3) A power-driven vessel operating in narrow
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| channels and proceeding downstream shall have the right-of-way over a vessel proceeding upstream. The vessel proceeding upstream shall yield as necessary to permit safe passing.
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B. Crossing. As used in this Section, "crossing" means 2 or more watercraft traveling in directions that would have the path of travel of the watercraft intersect each other.
(1) If 2 power-driven vessels are crossing so as to
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| involve the risk of collision, the vessel that has the other on the starboard side shall keep out of the way and shall avoid crossing ahead of the other vessel.
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(2) A power-driven vessel crossing a river shall
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| keep out of the way of a power-driven vessel ascending or descending the river.
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(3) A vessel may not cross a narrow channel or
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| canal if the crossing impedes the passage of a vessel that can only safely navigate within the channel or canal.
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C. Overtaking.
(1) A vessel overtaking any other shall give way to
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| the vessel being overtaken.
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(2) If a vessel operator is in doubt as to whether he
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| or she is overtaking another vessel, the operator shall assume he or she is overtaking the other vessel and shall act accordingly.
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(3) Any subsequent alteration of the bearing between
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| the 2 vessels shall not make the overtaking vessel a crossing vessel within the meaning of this Section or relieve the overtaking operator of the duty to keep clear of the overtaken vessel until finally past and clear.
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(4) When overtaking in a narrow channel or canal, the
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| operator of a power-driven vessel intending to overtake another power-driven vessel shall proceed to pass safety only after indicating his or her intention by sounding the horn as follows:
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(a) one short blast from the horn signifies a
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| request to pass on the overtaken vessel's starboard side;
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(b) 2 short blasts from the horn signify a
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| request to pass on the overtaken vessel's port side.
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(5) The operator of the power-driven vessel being
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(a) acknowledge the request by sounding the same
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(b) sound 5 short blasts from the horn to
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| indicate danger or to warn the overtaking vessel not to pass.
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No response from the overtaken vessel shall be
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| interpreted as an indication of danger and is the same as if 5 short blasts from the horn were sounded. In the absence of an audible signal or horn, a light signal device using the appropriate number of rapid bursts of light may be used.
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D. Sailing vessels.
(1) The operator of a power-driven vessel shall yield
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| the right-of-way to any nonpowered or sailing vessel unless the nonpowered vessel is overtaking the power-driven vessel or when a large craft is navigating in a confined channel, the large craft has the right-of-way over a boat propelled solely by oars or sails.
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(2) If 2 sailing vessels are approaching one another,
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| so as to involve risk of collision, one of them shall keep out of the way of the other as follows:
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(a) If each has the wind on a different side,
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| the vessel that has the wind on the port side shall give way to the other vessel.
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(b) If both have the wind on the same side, the
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| vessel that is to windward shall give way to the vessel that is to leeward.
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(c) If a vessel with the wind on the port side
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| sees a vessel to windward and cannot determine with certainty whether the other vessel has the wind on the port or starboard side, the vessel shall give way to the other vessel.
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(Source: P.A. 102-595, eff. 6-1-22.)
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