093_HB3107

 
                                     LRB093 08885 DRH 09117 b

 1        AN ACT in relation to vehicles.

 2        Be it enacted by the People of  the  State  of  Illinois,
 3    represented in the General Assembly:

 4        Section  5.   The  Boat  Registration  and  Safety Act is
 5    amended by changing Section 5-14 as follows:

 6        (625 ILCS 45/5-14) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 315-9)
 7        Sec. 5-14.  Water Skiing.
 8        A.  No person may operate a motorboat that has in tow  or
 9    is  otherwise assisting a person on water skis, an aquaplane,
10    or a similar contrivance in or upon any waterway, unless  the
11    motorboat  has  a  capacity  of  at  least  3  persons and is
12    occupied by at least 2 competent persons.
13        A-1.  A person may not operate a motorboat  that  has  in
14    tow  or  is  otherwise  assisting  a person on water skis, an
15    aquaplane, or a similar contrivance in or upon any  waterway,
16    unless there is in the motorboat a person, in addition to the
17    operator, in a position to observe the progress of the person
18    being  towed,  unless  the  motorboat  is equipped with a ski
19    mirror approved by the Department.
20        The Director of Natural Resources must  adopt  rules  for
21    implementing this subsection A-1.
22        B.  No  person  may  operate a motorboat having in tow or
23    otherwise be assisting a person on water skis,  aquaplane  or
24    similar  contrivance  from  the period of one-half hour after
25    sunset to one-half hour before sunrise. This paragraph B does
26    not apply to motorboats used in  duly  authorized  water  ski
27    tournaments,  competitions,  exhibitions  or  trials therefor
28    where adequate lighting is provided.
29        C.  All persons operating a motorboat having  in  tow  or
30    otherwise  assisting  a  person  on  water skis, aquaplane or
31    similar contrivance, must be careful  and  prudent  in  their
 
                            -2-      LRB093 08885 DRH 09117 b
 1    operation  and keep at a reasonable distance from persons and
 2    property so as not to endanger the life or  property  of  any
 3    person.
 4        D.  No  person  may operate or manipulate any vessel, tow
 5    rope or other device by which the direction  or  location  of
 6    water  skis,  aquaplane, or similar device may be affected or
 7    controlled in  such  a  way  as  to  cause  the  water  skis,
 8    aquaplane,  or  similar  device,  or  any  persons thereon to
 9    collide with or strike against any person or  object,  except
10    ski   jumps,   buoys   and  like  objects  normally  used  in
11    competitive or recreational skiing.
12    (Source: P.A. 90-412, eff. 1-1-98.)