Despite the fact that boat owners in Illinois are not required to carry insurance, the majority of individuals understand the value of doing so. In the same way that insurance is vital for your car, you should think about safeguarding your boat in the same way.
What is required on a boat in Illinois?
Is a Boating License Required in Illinois? Anyone operating a vessel with a motor of more than 10 horsepower who was born on or after January 1, 1998 is obliged by law to complete a boater safety course and have a boater education card.
Do I need to register my boat in Illinois?
The requirements for registering a vessel differ from one state to the next. To operate a vessel legally on public waters in Illinois, you must have an Illinois Certificate of Number (registration), expiration decals, and a Certificate of Title. The following are exceptions to the requirement to register recreational vessels:
- Vessels that have been duly registered in another state and have been in Illinois waters for less than 60 days
- Vessels that have been documented with the United States Coast Guard (USCG) that have been in Illinois waters for fewer than 60 days.
A Certificate of Title is not required for vessels under 21 feet in length.
Does Illinois require a title for a boat?
Is it necessary for me to give my yacht a title? Titling is not required for boats under 22 feet in length. The requirements for registration have not changed. In Illinois, all watercraft propelled by equipment (including trolling motors) or sail must be registered.
Can you have beer on a boat in Illinois?
Officers issued the following citations in response to infractions of our state’s boating restrictions during the 2014 federal fiscal year, according to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR).
The Chicago Tribune followed Lake County Sheriff Marine Unit Sergeant James McKinney and a deputy as they patrolled the Chain O’ Lakes in Fox Lake at the start of the summer. To learn more about the cops’ strategy to enforcing the state’s boating restrictions, watch the three-minute video below.
The most telling comment, in our opinion, occurs at 1:35. “A lot of what the officers do out here is about balancing,” McKinney tells the Tribune. It’s not only about the enforcement side of things; it’s also about assuring everyone’s safety.”
McKinney is correct. The purpose of Illinois boating regulations is not to impose fines and ruin a day at the lake. Instead, they’re designed to safeguard boaters, swimmers, fishermen, and anybody else who wants to take advantage of our region’s incredible natural resources.
With that in mind, we urge you to pay particular attention to the ten most prevalent Illinois Boat Registration and Safety Act breaches. Do whatever it takes to avoid committing these infractions and face the consequences, which can include boating accidents, injuries, and deaths in addition to penalties.
Failure to Have Required Personal Flotation Device (PFD, or Life Preserver)
For each person on board, you must have at least one personal flotation device (PFD) certified by the United States Coast Guard (USCG). One of the following PFDs is required:
- Type I or II A PFD can lift an unconscious person from a face-down position in the water to a vertical or slightly backward position.
- Type III – A PFD can hold a conscious person in the water vertical or slightly backward.
You must also have at least one Type IV PFD, which is a PFD that may be tossed to a person in the water, if the boat is 16 feet or longer. You must wear a personal flotation device (PFD) when driving a personal watercraft (PWC), such as a jet ski. You must have at least one PFD on board if you are pushing someone along on water skis or a tube (or the person must be wearing it).
The PFD must be “easy to access” and “serviceable” in order to be used. It must also be the correct size for the person who will be wearing it. The approval label from the USCG must be readable.
Failure to have a mandatory PFD on board the boat might result in a petty charge being issued. It can also lead to significantly worse outcomes. According to the IDNR, 14 of the 20 people killed in Illinois watercraft incidents in 2014 may have survived if they had worn a PFD.
Failure to Wear a Required PFD (for ages 13-under)
Anyone on board a boat that is smaller than 26 feet in length must wear a personal flotation device (PFD) at all times if they are under the age of 13. The following are the only two exceptions to this rule:
We strongly advise you to pay attention to this criteria. According to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, 20 persons have died in Illinois each year due to drowning, including children, on average since 1964.
Boating Under the Influence (BUI)
In Illinois, you can’t operate a boat if your blood alcohol content (BAC) is 0.08 or more, or if you’re under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or any combination of the three “that renders you incapable of properly operating any watercraft.”
As you may expect, the criminal implications are serious. A Class A misdemeanor is a first-time crime. If the following conditions are met, the offense becomes a Class 4 felony with a one-year minimum penalty and a maximum of 12 years in prison:
- You cause an accident that causes great bodily harm, permanent impairment, or disfigurement to another person; or you cause an accident that causes great bodily harm, permanent disability, or disfigurement to another person.
- Because of a past BUI conviction, your boating license was revoked or suspended at the time of the infraction.
If you create an accident that kills another person, you are guilty of a Class 2 felony. You could be sentenced to a minimum of three years and a maximum of fourteen years in prison.
Boating after drinking any amount of alcohol or using any drug (illegal or prescription) is extremely risky. According to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, alcohol was implicated in nearly one out of every five watercraft incidents in 2014.
If you have any reservations, read this story from the Daily Herald of a sad incident on the Chain O’ Lakes in July 2012. It resulted in the death of a 10-year-old boy and the guy convicted of boating while under the influence of alcohol and cocaine receiving a 10-year prison sentence.
Careless or Reckless Operation
Anyone who operates a boat in a “careless or inconsiderate manner” that endangers others, or who drives the boat at an unreasonably fast pace, is in violation of Illinois law. For example, failing to:
The law also prohibits anyone from operating a boat in a “reckless” manner. This implies operating the boat in a way that puts “any person’s life, limb, or property in jeopardy willfully or wantonly.” It may consist of the following:
A violation can result in a Class A misdemeanor penalty or a Class 4 felony conviction if it is egregious.
Entering a No-Boat Zone or Driving Above No-Wake Speed
You must not enter an area that has been clearly identified by buoys or other devices as a zone restricted to only swimmers or anglers. Additionally, you are not allowed to run a boat faster than “no wake” speed, which is 5 mph or less, within 150 feet of a public launching ramp. A violation is a minor infraction that puts you at risk of striking someone else, which can be fatal.
Overloading
When a boat becomes overcrowded, passengers may tumble overboard or the boat may capsize. Weather and ocean conditions might play a role in these kinds of mishaps. According to the IDNR, capsizing accidents accounted for one-fourth of the state’s boating fatalities in 2014.
For these reasons, Illinois law bans anybody from operating a motor boat that is “laden over its safe carrying capacity with passengers or goods.” A violation of this law is considered a minor infraction.
Improper Towing
You must adhere to specific guidelines if you want to take someone waterskiing or tubing. These prerequisites are as follows:
- Never tow another vehicle at night (30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes hour before sunrise)
- Never ride through locations where the person being towed might collide with someone or something.
You must also display a bright orange flag that is at least 12 inches by 12 inches, according to a new regulation. It must be positioned “at the highest point surrounding the boat’s helm” so that it may be seen from all sides.
Riding Gunwales
If you allow anyone on board your boat to ride or sit on the gunwales while it is in operation, you will be fined. Additionally, passengers are not permitted to ride or sit on the tops of seat backs or on the decking above the bow or tail of the boat.
Violations of this law pose numerous safety dangers. By hitting the boat, a person can easily fall overboard and sustain a head injury, which can lead to drowning or near-drowning.
Unlawful Operation
Under current Illinois law, no child under the age of ten is permitted to operate a motor boat. A youngster between the ages of 10 and 12 can only operate a motor boat if accompanied by a parent, guardian, or someone 18 or older that the parent or guardian has designated. If a youngster is under the age of 18, he or she must be accompanied by a parent, guardian, or designee or possess a valid Boating Safety Certificate.
On January 1, 2016, a new law goes into force. If you were born on or after January 1, 1998, you must have a valid IDNR or state-issued boating safety certificate “The IDNR has “recognized and approved” an entity or group to operate a boat with more than 10 horsepower.
A kid between the ages of ten and twelve must be accompanied by an adult “under the direct on-board supervision” of a parent, guardian, or designee who holds a current Boating Safety Certificate. If the parent/guardian/designee criterion is met or the child obtains a valid Boating Safety Certificate, a youngster under the age of 18 can operate a boat.
You could be charged with a petty misdemeanor if you enable your child to drive a boat in violation of the law. Of However, if a child who lacks the strength, abilities, training, judgment, and experience to operate a motor boat causes an accident, you may be held liable.
Failing to Properly Register and Title a Boat
A boat must be titled and registered if it is operated in Illinois waters (and you must also properly display your registration number). To operate the boat on specific waterways, you may also require a permit.
These monies can be used to pursue boating infractions as well as other vital safety measures like dredging, as Sergeant McKinney says in the Chicago Tribune video. Finally, this is why it’s critical to achieve these standards.
How old do you have to be in Illinois to drive a boat?
A motorboat, including personal watercraft, may not be operated by anyone under the age of ten (PWC). Children under the age of ten and under the age of twelve may only operate under the direct supervision of a parent or guardian. Who is required to take the course?
Do boat trailers have titles in Illinois?
In order to document proof of ownership, the state of Illinois requires a boat title for a vessel or a vehicle title for a boat trailer. Transferring ownership of a boat or trailer also necessitates title.
How do you get a boating license in Illinois?
Your Illinois Boating Certificate can be obtained in three simple steps:
- Print a temporary card right away and wait 3-5 weeks for your permanent card to arrive in the mail.
How much is sales tax on a boat in Illinois?
The tax rate is 6.25 percent of the purchase price, and it is determined by the address of the watercraft’s registration or title in Illinois. It’s worth noting that certain municipalities may levy a separate local use tax on the transaction.
Do you have to have a title for a trailer in Illinois?
Motor vehicles (e.g., cars, trucks, vans, and buses), motorcycles, watercraft, aircraft (e.g., airplanes, helicopters, hot air balloons, and gliders), trailers, motor homes, mobile homes, snowmobiles, and all-terrain vehicles are among the items that must be titled or registered with an Illinois agency. (
Can I register a boat with a bill of sale in Illinois?
A boat bill of sale in Illinois establishes the transfer of a boat from a seller to a buyer for a predetermined selling price. The date of the transfer, the sale price, vessel information, and essential personal information for both parties are all listed on this bill of sale. The buyer does not have full possession of the boat just because this document is completed; the seller must sign the boat’s title over to the buyer. The buyer can register the boat for use on public waters using the boat bill of sale and signed title.