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Lake Patrol Program Update

Through August 1st 2010, the Goose Lake Association Lake Patrol has spent 33 days totaling approximately 194 hours on

 

our lakes in an effort to provide all of our property owners and members a safe and enjoyable boating season. 

The good news is that we have seen a noticeable improvement in both GLA and State of Illinois decal infractions. However, when it comes to safety, Lake Patrol has been fairly busy addressing several safety related issues this year. This includes the following action taken by the Lake Patrol through the August 1st time frame:

 

 

 

 

 (4) Citations were issued to those members who had illegal watercraft on GLA waterways and who failed to either purchase current GLA watercraft decals, had expired Illinois Watercraft Registration or launched watercraft and parking their vehicles in the marina areas without purchasing the proper GLA vehicle decals. Those receiving citations for illegal watercraft on GLA waterways also failed to provide current proof of liability insurance prior to placing their watercraft in the water.

 

(7) Written Warnings were issued to those members who did purchase but did not display the current GLA decal on the watercraft prior to placing the watercraft on GLA waterways or for parking a vehicle in the GLA marina with an improper GLA vehicle decal.

 

  (19) Verbal Warnings were issued as a result of the following safety related issues:

Ø      (8) Warnings issued due to children under the age of 13 not wearing life jackets while the watercraft was fully underway. All parties did have proper life jackets on board and immediately corrected the situation.

Ø      (4) Warnings issued due to operators or passengers riding on unprotected areas of the watercraft. All parties immediately corrected the situation.

Ø      (2) Warnings issued due to children wearing improper life jackets while riding on jet ski’s. Children were transported back to owner’s property in Lake Patrol Boat.

Ø      (2) Warnings issued due to improper weight distribution on watercraft causing an unstable condition. All parties immediately corrected the situation.

Ø      (1) Warning issued due to jet ski operator for not properly securing their life jacket. Operator immediately corrected the situation.

Ø      (1) Warning issued due to pulling of a tuber without an observer in the watercraft. Party immediately stopped pulling tuber with tuber boarding the watercraft.

Ø      (1) Warning issued due to watercraft traveling in the wrong direction (clockwise) on the lake. Operator immediately corrected the situation and continued in a counterclockwise flow pattern. 

As you can see from the above, we are seeing an alarming number of life jacket infractions that involve children. This is a very simple issue that can and should be corrected. Everyone should be reminded that the Illinois (DOC) Department of Conservation Police have a “Zero Tolerance” rule when it comes to a child’s safety and allowing a child under the age of 13 to ride on a watercraft that is underway without wearing the proper life jacket. This would be an immediate $75 fine ($120 after September 1st) when stopped by a DOC Police Officer.

Please help us to keep our children and our lakes safe by reviewing and following the GLA Safe Boating Guidelines that are printed in this newsletter. 

Goose Lake Association Lake Patrol Committee

 

 

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Lake Patrol  -  Enforcement Guidelines

Goose Lake & Lincoln Lake Homeowners Associations

( Beaver, Goose, Half Moon and Lincoln Lakes )

( February 21st, 2009 - Revision 8 )

 

 

Lake Patrol

 

(a)  It is unlawful for any person to resist or obstruct any officer or employee of the Goose Lake Association (GLA) Lake Patrol in the discharge of his/her duties. (GLA Rules 11/2007 – Section 6.12 Lake Patrol)

(b)  It is unlawful for the operator of any watercraft, having been given a signal by a GLA Lake Patrol Officer, Department of Conservation Police Officer, or other person of proper authority that is directing the operator of a watercraft to bring the watercraft to a stop, to willfully fail or refuse to obey the Officer directions, to increase speed, to extinguish lights, or otherwise flee or attempt to elude the Officer.  The signal given by the Officer may be by voice, sign, siren, or flashing red, blue, or yellow lights. (GLA Rules 11/2007 Section 6.12 Lake Patrol)

(c)  All watercraft upon being hailed by a designated GLA Lake Patrol Officer must stop immediately. (GLA Rules 11/2007 Section 6.12 Lake Patrol)

 

Proper Display of Association Decal & Identification (Lot) Numbers

 

<!1.All watercraft will have current year decals and identification (lake/lot) numbers attached to both the port (left side of watercraft) and starboard side (right side of watercraft) nearest to the back of the watercraft  GLA decals and lot numbers should not be placed any farther forward than mid-point of the watercraft and should be well above the waterline so that they are in plain view. Watercraft having side facing windshields on both (port & starboard) sides of the watercraft can display current GLA decal and lot number on side windshields only if this can be done without obstructing the drivers vision. Identification (lake/lot) Numbers should be of block characters at least 3 inches in height and in contrasting color to their background. (GLA Rules 01/26/09 Section 6.1 Markings)

<!2.All vehicles parked in marinas will have current year decal permanently attached on the right side (looking from rear to front), lower half of the windshield.  (GLA Rules 11/2007 Section 1.1 Decals)

 

Proper Display of State of Illinois Decal & Registration Number

1.  All watercraft will have a current Illinois Decal & Registration Number attached to both sides of the bow (front). Registration Numbers shall be of block characters at least 3 inches in height and in contrasting color to their background.  NOTE: Non-powered canoes and kayaks are not required to display Illinois registration numbers.  Display decals only.  (Illinois Boat & Safety Act Digest)

Towing of Skiers, Tubes, or Other Similar Pull Behind Devices

  1. No towing of water skiers, tubes or other similar devices shall be permitted from ½ hour after sunset to ½ hour before sunrise.  (GLA Rules 11/2007 Section 6.7 Skiing Hours)
  2. No watercraft shall pull more than two (2) skiers, tubes or other similar devices at one time during weekends or holidays. An orange caution flag shall be visibly displayed by the observer in the towing boat for other boaters to see when a skier or person being towed is in the water (such as when waiting to be towed, picked up, or has fallen into the water).  (GLA Rules 11/2007 Section 6.9)
  3. When towing a person on water skis, tubes, or other such devices, the towing boat must be occupied by at least two (2) competent people (driver and observer).  (Illinois Boat & Safety Act Digest)

 

Jet Skis or Other Personal Watercraft

1. Jet Skis or other Personal Water Craft are not allowed to pull or tow water skiers, tubes, or other types of pull craft.  (GLA Rules 11/2007 Section 6.8)

2. No person shall operate a Jet Ski or other Personal Water Craft between the hours of sunset to sunrise.  (Illinois Boat & Safety Act Digest)

 

Proper Operation of a Watercraft

  1. After dark, watercraft must utilize coast guard approved running lights and should travel slowly and at a safe rate of speed. (GLA Rules 05/2003 Section 6.11)
  2. All watercraft should travel in a counterclockwise pattern around the circumference of the lake.  (GLA Rules 11/2007 Section 6.10)
  3. No person shall operate any watercraft in a careless manner as to endanger any person or property, or at a rate of speed greater than that of bringing the watercraft to a safe stop.  (Illinois Boat & Safety Act Digest)
  4. It shall be a violation to operate any watercraft without the proper safety equipment (such as life preservers, whistles, horns, fire extinguisher, etc).  (Illinois Boat & Safety Act Digest)
  5. Watercraft operators should properly observe and obey all safety buoys’ identifying “no wake” or “dangerous areas” throughout the lakes.  (Illinois Boat & Safety Act Digest)
  6. No person operating a motorboat shall allow a person in the motorboat to ride or sit on the gunwales, tops of seat backs, or on the decking over the bow or stern of the motorboat while it is underway, unless the person is inboard of guards or rails provided on the motorboat to prevent passengers from being lost overboard.  (Illinois Boat & Safety Act Digest)
  7. It is unlawful to operate any watercraft unless at least one U.S. Coast Guard approved PFD of the following types is on board for each passenger: Type I, Type II, or Type III (wearable PFDs). Any watercraft 16 feet or more in length , except a canoe or kayak, must have at least one type IV (throwable) U.S. Coast Guard approved PFD on board, in addition to the PFDs required above. No person may operate a watercraft under 26 feet in length unless a Type I, Type II, Type III, or Type V PFD is being properly worn by each person under the age of 13 while the watercraft is underway. (Illinois Boat & Safety Act Digest)

 8.  When two watercraft are approaching each other head on or nearly so, each boat must bear to the right and pass the other boat on     its left side. (Illinois Boat & Safety Act Digest)

 9. When watercraft approach each other at right angles, the craft approaching on the right side has the right of way.  (Illinois Boat & Safety Act Digest)

 10.When a motorboat is approaching a non-motorized watercraft such as a row boat, paddleboat, kayak, etc, the motorboat must yield the  right of way to the non-motorized watercraft.  (Illinois Boat & Safety Act Digest) The use of ballast tanks that are designed for creating excessive waves are prohibited on any Goose Lake Association waterways. (GLA Rules 11/2007 Section 6.0.a Boating)

12. Any watercraft found to be creating excessive waves will be subject to the fines and penalties as stated in Section 6.13: Boat Fines, Penalties,       and Violations. (GLA Rules 11/2007 Section 6.0.c Boating)

 

Age & Operation of Motorized Watercraft

 

1. No person under the age of 10 may operate a motorboat. (Illinois Boat & Safety Act Digest)

2. Persons who are at least 10 years of age and less than 12 years of age may operate a motorboat only if  (Illinois Boat & Safety Act Digest):

a) they are accompanied and under the direct control of a parent or guardian, or a person at least 18 years of age who has been designated by a parent or guardian.

3. Persons who are at least 12 years of age and less than 18 years of age may operate a motorboat only if  (Illinois Boat & Safety Act Digest):

a) they are accompanied and are under direct control of a parent or guardian or a person at least 18 years of age who has been designated by a parent or guardian, or

b) such motorboat operator is in possession of a Boating Safety Certificate issued by the Department of Natural Resources, Division of Education, or a valid certificate issued by another state.

 

 

General Rules

 

  1. Property owners or open members shall not allow the use of their watercraft to non-owners or non-members without the owner or member being present on the property or at their homes.  (GLA Rules 11/2007 General Rule #5)
  2. Watercraft used on Goose and Beaver (including Half Moon) Lakes shall not be equipped with more than a 10 HP motor. Watercrafts on these lakes are limited to No Wake speeds.  (GLA Rules 11/2007 Section 6.3)
  3. No person shall operate a watercraft while under the influence of alcohol or any other drug to a degree that renders him/her incapable of safely operating such watercraft.  (Illinois Boat & Safety Act Digest)

Fines: All fines are to be paid within forty-five (45) days of issuing date of ticket.  A $10.00 penalty per month will be assessed until the fine is paid. (GLA Rules 11/2007 “ General Rules “ # 6)