A new law makes it easier for out-of-state boaters to take part in state-sanctioned races.
Under previous regulations, out-of-state youth were discouraged from participating, as they had to have a licensed adult accompanying them.
Furthermore, any out-of-state participant needed to obtain an Illinois Boat Safety Certificate through hours of classwork if they wanted to operate a watercraft in-state.
State Rep. Bob Pritchard, who sponsored the bill, says this was sending the wrong message.
“It just seemed like we were making it too difficult for these people to have a fun event, to add to our economy in the state of Illinois," he says. "It wasn’t an issue of safety because these types of races, the types of people that participate are very safety conscious.”
The new law removes these previous requirements, making it easier for out-of-state boaters to take part in races sanctioned by the Department of Natural Resources, such as DePue. Pleasure boating restrictions are unaffected.
