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Boating Rules
The following rules must be observed at all times by persons operating or
storing boats/craft on Lake Springfield. Anyone found to be violating these
rules will be considered guilty of a misdemeanor(s) and may be fined up to
$750 per violation. (In certain cases, detailed below, violators may be
charged with felony conduct.) Additional penalties, including the revocation
of registration privileges, may also be assessed.
Click on the appropriate link(s) below to access specific rules that
apply to boating on Lake Springfield.
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Operator Age |
In
order to operate a motorboat on Lake Springfield you must be at least
ten years old. If you are are at
least 10 but less than 12 years old, you may
operate a motorboat only if you are accompanied on the boat and under
the direct control of your parent/guardian (or an aged 18+ designee of
your parent/guardian).
If you are at least 12 but less than 18 years
old, you may operate a motorboat only if you: (1) are accompanied on the
boat and under the direct control of your parent/guardian (or an aged
18+ designee of your parent/guardian); or (2) possess a
boating safety certificate issued
by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Safety Education
Section, which authorizes you to operate motorboats.
No person under the
age of 18 may be on the lake between midnight and 5 a.m. without a
parent or guardian. Regardless of age, all operators of watercraft on Lake
Springfield must comply with
State of Illinois requirements for
registration and safety equipment.
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Intoxication |
Illinois law prohibits watercraft operation by any person under the
influence of alcohol, other drugs or any combination of those
substances. Violation of this law will be treated as a Class A
misdemeanor, Class 4 felony or Class 3 felony, depending on the
violator's past record or the extent to which the violation results in
bodily injury or death to another individual.
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Muffling Equipment |
All
motors must be equipped with a muffler to prevent noise and smoke. Motor
and internal engine exhaust gases should be discharged underwater or
should be muffled to ensure that the gases are no noisier or annoying
than those of similarly powered internal combustion engines with
underwater exhausts. Muffler cutouts are not permitted.
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Speed
Limits |
Top
allowable speed on Lake Springfield is 35 mph. From sunset to sunrise,
the maximum speed is 15 mph. When within 200 feet of the shoreline,
while going under bridges or if passing within 75 yards of a diver's
flag, the maximum speed is 5 mph. When within 200 feet of a public
launching ramp or bridge, "no wake" speed (5 mph or less) must be maintained. (Wake
is defined as the movement of water created by a boat underway if that
movement is great enough to disturb a boat at rest.)
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Diver's Flags |
In addition to observing speed limits
in the vicinity of divers' flags, boats should stay at least 50 yards
away from divers' flags. A diver's flag is a red square or rectangular
flag with white diagonal stripe, measuring at least 12 inches by 12
inches, which is visible for 360 degrees. It is to be displayed by the
operator of any watercraft whenever anyone leaves the confines of that
craft to enter the water.
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Operating Care |
Watercraft should be operated with reasonable care at all times to
avoid endangering life and property. At no time should any watercraft be
operated at such a speed or in such proximity to another craft as
to cause either operator to have to swerve to avoid collision. When a
motorboat is underway, occupants may not sit on the gunwales, on tops of
seat backs, or in the decking over the bow or stern. While underway,
occupants also may not stand in any boat or craft unless their center of
gravity is below the level of the gunwales or guard rails or unless the
watercraft is specifically designed for standing operation.
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Water
Skiing and Other Recreational Towing Activities |
The
following rules must be observed by any watercraft being used to tow a
water skier, aquaplaner, tuber, surfboarder or any other person using a
similar type of device: |
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Any
watercraft towing a water skier or person on an aquaplane, tube or other
similar device must have sufficient seating capacity for all passengers
and the person(s) being towed. When towing, the watercraft must be
occupied by at least two competent persons (the driver and an "observer").
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- Towing
or assisting water skiers is allowed only in the period from 30 minutes
before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset.
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- Water
skiing and other types of recreational towing are not permitted in the
vicinity of Spaulding Dam. A line of "no boat" buoys establishes this
area as being off limits to water activities of any kind. Nor is
recreational towing permitted within 200 feet of any portion of the
lake's shoreline, except in lanes authorized for the express purpose of
entering or exiting the main body of the lake. Such activity is also
prohibited in areas posted as beaches and boat harbors, under bridges,
and within a 1000-foot radius of public boat launches.
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Personal Flotation Devices |
All
boats must have at least one U.S. Coast Guard approved
Type I,
II or
III (or the equivalent) personal flotation device aboard for each
person. |
| With
the exception of canoes and kayaks, boats 16 feet or more in length must
be equipped with one extra
Type IV personal flotation device in addition to those required for
each passenger aboard the boat. |
| A U.S.
Coast Guard approved
Type V personal flotation device may be carried in lieu of Type I,
II, III or IV personal flotation devices if the Type V personal
flotation device is approved for the activity in which it is being used. |
| All
persons aged 15 and under, as well as all non-swimmers, are required to
wear personal flotation devices at all times. |
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Flotation Device Definitions |
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Lighting Equipment |
Any
boat operated on Lake Springfield between sunset and sunrise must have
some type of lighting equipment. Specific requirements are as follows: |
- Between
sunset and sunrise, motorboats less than 26 feet
long must display: (1) a white light visible for two miles mounted
on the rear of the craft; and (2) a combination light—green on the
right side and red on the left side—mounted on the front of the boat
in a position that is lower than the white light. The combination light
must be screened so that the green light is visible from the right only
and the red light is visible from the left only.
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Motorboats that are longer than 26 feet
should carry the additional lights required by the U.S. Coast Guard for
that specific boat size and type.
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- Lighting requirements for sailboats depend
on the boat's size and its method of locomotion. When a sailboat
equipped with motors is being propelled partly or solely by that motor(s),
the boat operator must follow lighting rules for motorboats. When a
sailboat of less than 26 feet in length is propelled by sail between
sunset and sunrise (whether or not the boat is equipped with a motor),
the operator may use combination running lights only. When a sailboat of
26 feet or longer is propelled by sail between sunset and sunrise
(whether or not the boat is equipped with a motor), suitably screened
colored side lights must be used. These boats do not have to display the
white lights required for motorboats.
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Boats propelled by muscle power
must carry a lantern or flashlight that emits white light visible for
two miles. This light should not be attached to the craft, but must be
displayed if other craft approach to help avoid collisions.
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- When
serving a larger boat, dinghies, tenders and other
watercraft should carry a flashlight visible to other craft in
the area. When not serving a larger craft, they must follow lighting
rules for boats of their class.
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Other Safety Devices |
All
boats must be equipped with a paddle or oar, a pump or bailer, and an
anchor with at least 50 feet of anchor line. In addition, every
motorboat: |
- must be
equipped with at least one U.S. Coast Guard approved fire extinguisher.
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- must be
equipped with a horn or whistle capable of producing a two-second blast
audible for at least a half-mile. It is, however, unlawful for any
person, except designated patrolmen, to use a motorboat equipped with a
siren or red or blue flashing light.
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- with
storage batteries must have the batteries suitably supported to secure
against shifting while the boat is in motion. To avoid accidental
shorting of battery terminals, storage batteries must also be equipped
with non-conductive shielding.
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Personal Watercraft Operation |
In
addition to following general boating safety rules outlined throughout
this section, operators of personal watercraft (e.g.,
jet skis) are prohibited from: |
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weaving
through congested traffic at other than idle speed;
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jumping the wake
of another vessel within 100 feet of the vessel or whenever the
visibility of either watercraft operator is otherwise obstructed; or
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operating the craft
between the hours of sunset and sunrise.
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Toilet Facilities |
No
marine head (toilet) on any watercraft used upon Lake Springfield may be
installed and operated in a way that permits the discharge of any sewage
into the water directly or indirectly. Toilet facilities must be pumped
out at an appropriate sewage disposal station.
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Boating Accidents |
Any
watercraft operator involved in a boating accident in which a person is
injured or property is damaged must give others involved in the accident
his name, address and boat description, as well as the name and address
of the watercraft owner if different from that of the operator. In
addition, if the accident results in an injury requiring medical
attention beyond first aid or in property damage of $2,000 or more (or
total loss of the vessel), an accident report must be filed with the
Illinois Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and
the General Manager of Public Properties within 5 days. Accidents resulting in loss of life must be reported within 48 hours. Other responsibilities of the
watercraft operator or owner in the event of an accident include: |
- The
operator should try to help anyone else involved in the accident as long
as doing so does not threaten the safety of the operator, his passengers
or his craft.
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- If a
person is struggling in the water at an accident scene, the boat
operator should seek assistance either by: sounding a short blast on the
boat horn, by waving both arms and holding up a life jacket, or by
calling for assistance on Channel 9 of a CB radio. An attempt to rescue
the person in the water should be made only if the rescuer is wearing a
life jacket, if the rescue boat is anchored, and if there is another
person in the boat (or on another nearby boat) to keep other watercraft
away from the rescue area.
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Boating
Last updated:
12/08/09
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