§ 4-8 — Sirens and flashing lights

(a) Except as provided in this Section, it shall be unlawful for any person to use a watercraft equipped with a siren or any red or blue oscillating, rotating, or flashing light. The use of a siren or light in violation of this Section shall constitute a public nuisance subject to confiscation and disposal as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction. (b) Any authorized emergency watercraft described in subsection (c) or (d) may be equipped with a siren, but the siren shall not be used except when the watercraft is operating in response to an emergency call or in the immediate pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law. (c) The use of blue oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights, whether lighted or unlighted, is prohibited except on law enforcement watercraft of State, federal, or local authorities. (d) The use of red oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights, whether lighted or unlighted, is prohibited except on fire, rescue, or other emergency watercraft as authorized by State, federal, or local authorities having jurisdiction, provided the watercraft are clearly identifiable as such; the lights shall not be lighted except when responding to an emergency call or while actually engaged in a hazardous situation. (e) The use of any other color of oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights, whether lighted or unlighted, is prohibited except as authorized by the Department.

Legislative History

(Source: P.A. 88-524.)