(625 ILCS 45/4-2) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 314-2)

Sec. 4-2. Navigation lights.

A. Watercraft subject to this Section shall be divided into classes as follows:

1. Class 1: Less than 16 feet in length.

2. Class 2: 16 feet or over and less than 26 feet in length.

3. Class 3: 26 feet or over and less than 40 feet in length.

4. Class 4: 40 feet or over and less than 65 feet in length.

B. Every motorboat, underway from sunset to sunrise or underway in weather causing reduced visibility, shall carry and exhibit the following United States Coast Guard approved lights when underway and, during such time, shall not use any other lights that may be mistaken for or interfere with those prescribed as follows:

1. A Class 1 or Class 2 motorboat shall carry the following lights:

(a) A bright white light aft to show all around the horizon; and

(b) A combined light in the fore part of the watercraft and lower than the white light aft, showing green to starboard and red to port, so fixed as to throw the light from right ahead to 2 points (22.5 degrees) abaft the beam on their respective sides.

2. A Class 3 or Class 4 motorboat shall carry the following lights:

(a) A bright white light in the fore part of the watercraft as near the stern as practicable, so constructed as to show the unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 20 points (225 degrees) of the compass, so fixed as to throw the light 10 points (112.5 degrees) on each side of the watercraft, namely, from right ahead to 2 points (22.5 degrees) abaft the beam on either side;

(b) A bright white light aft, mounted higher than the white light forward, to show all around the horizon; and

(c) On the starboard side, a green light so constructed as to show an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 10 points (112.5 degrees) of the compass, so fixed as to throw the light from right ahead to 2 points (22.5 degrees) abaft the beam on the starboard side. On the port side, a red light so constructed as to show an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 10 points (112.5 degrees) of the compass, so fixed as to throw the light from right ahead to 2 points (22.5 degrees) abaft the beam on the port side. The side lights shall be fitted with inboard screens so set as to prevent these lights from being seen across the bow.

3. A Class 1 or Class 2 motorboat propelled by sail alone shall exhibit the combined light prescribed by paragraph (1) and a 12-point (135 degrees) white light aft. A Class 3 or Class 4 motorboat, when so propelled, shall exhibit the colored side lights, suitably screened as prescribed by paragraph (2) and a 12-point (135 degrees) white light aft.

4. Every white light prescribed by this Section shall be of such character as to be visible at a distance of at least 2 miles. Every colored light prescribed by this Section shall be of such character as to be visible at a distance of at least one mile. As used in this subsection "visible", when applied to lights, means visible on a dark night with clear atmosphere.

5. If propelled by sail and machinery, a motorboat shall carry the lights required by this Section for a motorboat propelled by machinery only.

6. All other watercraft over 65 feet in length and those propelled solely by wind effect on the sail shall display lights prescribed by federal regulations.

C. Nonpowered watercraft shall carry, ready at hand, a lantern or flashlight showing a white light that shall be exhibited in sufficient time to avert collision. Manually propelled watercraft used on the waters of this State where power-driven vessels are prohibited are exempt from the provisions of this Section.

D. Any watercraft may carry and exhibit the lights required by the international regulations in lieu of the lights required by subsection B of this Section.

E. All watercraft, when anchored, other than in a special anchorage area as defined in 33 CFR 109.10, shall, from sunset to sunrise, carry and display a steady white light visible all around the horizon for a distance of no less than 2 miles.

F. (Blank).

G. (Blank).

(Source: P.A. 102-595, eff. 6-1-22.)