§ 5-16

Operating a watercraft under the influence of alcohol, other drug or drugs, intoxicating compound or compounds, or combination thereof. (A) 1. A person shall not operate or be in actual physical control of any watercraft within this State while: (a) The alcohol concentration in such person's blood, other bodily substance, or breath is a concentration at which driving a motor vehicle is prohibited under subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of Section 11-501 of the Illinois Vehicle Code; (b) Under the influence of alcohol; (c) Under the influence of any other drug or combination of drugs to a degree which renders such person incapable of safely operating any watercraft; (c-1) Under the influence of any intoxicating compound or combination of intoxicating compounds to a degree that renders the person incapable of safely operating any watercraft; (d) Under the combined influence of alcohol and any other drug or drugs to a degree which renders such person incapable of safely operating a watercraft; (d-3) The person who is not a CDL holder has a tetrahydrocannabinol concentration in the person's whole blood or other bodily substance at which driving a motor vehicle is prohibited under subdivision (7) of subsection (a) of Section 11-501 of the Illinois Vehicle Code; (d-5) The person who is a CDL holder has any amount of a drug, substance, or compound in the person's breath, blood, other bodily substance, or urine resulting from the unlawful use or consumption of cannabis listed in the Cannabis Control Act; or (e) There is any amount of a drug, substance, or compound in the person's blood, other bodily substance, or urine resulting from the unlawful use or consumption of a controlled substance listed in the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, methamphetamine as listed in the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act, or an intoxicating compound listed in the Use of Intoxicating Compounds Act. 2. The fact that any person charged with violating this Section is or has been legally entitled to use alcohol, other drug or drugs, any intoxicating compound or compounds, or any combination of them, shall not constitute a defense against any charge of violating this Section. 3. Every person convicted of violating this Section shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor, except as otherwise provided in this Section. 4. Every person convicted of violating this Section shall be guilty of a Class 4 felony if: (a) He or she has a previous conviction under this Section; (b) The offense results in personal injury where a person other than the operator suffers great bodily harm or permanent disability or disfigurement, when the violation was a proximate cause of the injuries. A person guilty of a Class 4 felony under this subparagraph (b), if sentenced to a term of imprisonment, shall be sentenced to a term of not less than one year nor more than 12 years; or (c) The offense occurred during a period in which his or her privileges to operate a watercraft are revoked or suspended, and the revocation or suspension was for a violation of this Section or was imposed under subsection (B). 5. Every person convicted of violating this Section shall be guilty of a Class 2 felony if the offense results in the death of a person. A person guilty of a Class 2 felony under this paragraph 5, if sentenced to a term of imprisonment, shall be sentenced to a term of not less than 3 years and not more than 14 years. 5.1. A person convicted of violating this Section or a similar provision of a local ordinance who had a child under the age of 16 aboard the watercraft at the time of offense is subject to a mandatory minimum fine of $500 and to a mandatory minimum of 5 days of community service in a program benefiting children. The assignment under this paragraph 5.1 is not subject to suspension and the person is not eligible for probation in order to reduce the assignment. 5.2. A person found guilty of violating this Section, if his or her operation of a watercraft while in violation of this Section proximately caused any incident resulting in an appropriate emergency response, is liable for the expense of an emergency response as provided in subsection (m) of Section 11-501 of the Illinois Vehicle Code. 5.3. In addition to any other penalties and liabilities, a person who is found guilty of violating this Section, including any person placed on court supervision, shall be fined $100, payable to the circuit clerk, who shall distribute the money to the law enforcement agency that made the arrest or as provided in subsection (c) of Section 10-5 of the Criminal and Traffic Assessment Act if the arresting agency is a State agency, unless more than one agency is responsible for the arrest, in which case the amount shall be remitted to each unit of government equally. Any moneys received by a law enforcement agency under this paragraph 5.3 shall be used to purchase law enforcement equipment or to provide law enforcement training that will assist in the prevention of alcohol related criminal violence throughout the State. Law enforcement equipment shall include, but is not limited to, in-car video cameras, radar and laser speed detection devices, and alcohol breath testers. 6. (a) In addition to any criminal penalties imposed, the Department of Natural Resources shall suspend the watercraft operation privileges of any person convicted or found guilty of a misdemeanor under this Section, a similar provision of a local ordinance, or Title 46 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations for a period of one year, except that a first time offender is exempt from this mandatory one year suspension. As used in this subdivision (A)6(a), "first time offender" means any person who has not had a previous conviction or been assigned supervision for violating this Section, a similar provision of a local ordinance or, Title 46 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, or any person who has not had a suspension imposed under subdivision (B)3.1 of Section 5-16. (b) In addition to any criminal penalties imposed, the Department of Natural Resources shall suspend the watercraft operation privileges of any person convicted of a felony under this Section, a similar provision of a local ordinance, or Title 46 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations for a period of 3 years. (B) 1. Any person who operates or is in actual physical control of any watercraft upon the waters of this State shall be deemed to have given consent to a chemical test or tests of blood, breath, other bodily substance, or urine for the purpose of determining the content of alcohol, other drug or drugs, intoxicating compound or compounds, or combination thereof in the person's blood or other bodily substance if arrested for any offense of subsection (A) above. The chemical test or tests shall be administered at the direction of the arresting officer. The law enforcement agency employing the officer shall designate which of the tests shall be administered. Up to 2 additional tests of urine or other bodily substance may be administered even after a blood or breath test or both has been administered. 1.1. For the purposes of this Section, an Illinois Law Enforcement officer of this State who is investigating the person for any offense defined in Section 5-16 may travel into an adjoining state, where the person has been transported for medical care to complete an investigation, and may request that the person submit to the test or tests set forth in this Section. The requirements of this Section that the person be arrested are inapplicable, but the officer shall issue the person a uniform citation for an offense as defined in Section 5-16 or a similar provision of a local ordinance prior to requesting that the person submit to the test or tests. The issuance of the uniform citation shall not constitute an arrest, but shall be for the purpose of notifying the person that he or she is subject to the provisions of this Section and of the officer's belief in the existence of probable cause to arrest. Upon returning to this State, the officer shall file the uniform citation with the circuit clerk of the county where the offense was committed and shall seek the issuance of an arrest warrant or a summons for the person. 1.2. Notwithstanding any ability to refuse under this Act to submit to these tests or any ability to revoke the implied consent to these tests, if a law enforcement officer has probable cause to believe that a watercraft operated by or under actual physical control of a person under the influence of alcohol, other drug or drugs, intoxicating compound or compounds, or any combination of them has caused the death of or personal injury to another, that person shall submit, upon the request of a law enforcement officer, to a chemical test or tests of his or her blood, breath, other bodily substance, or urine for the purpose of determining the alcohol content or the presence of any other drug, intoxicating compound, or combination of them. For the purposes of this Section, a personal injury includes severe bleeding wounds, distorted extremities, and injuries that require the injured party to be carried from the scene for immediate professional attention in either a doctor's office or a medical facility. 2. Any person who is dead, unconscious or who is otherwise in a condition rendering such person incapable of refusal, shall be deemed not to have withdrawn the consent provided above, and the test may be administered. 3. A person requested to submit to a chemical test as provided above shall be verbally advised by the law enforcement officer requesting the test that a refusal to submit to the test will result in suspension of such person's privilege to operate a watercraft for a minimum of 2 years. Following this warning, if a person under arrest refuses upon the request of a law enforcement officer to submit to a test designated by the officer, no test shall be given, but the law enforcement officer shall file with the clerk of the circuit court for the county in which the arrest was made, and with the Department of Natural Resources, a sworn statement naming the person refusing to take and complete the chemical test or tests requested under the provisions of this Section. Such sworn statement shall identify the arrested person, such person's current residence address and shall specify that a refusal by such person to take the chemical test or tests was made. Such sworn statement shall include a statement that the arresting officer had reasonable cause to believe the person was operating or was in actual physical control of the watercraft within this State while under the influence of alcohol, other drug or drugs, intoxicating compound or compounds, or combination thereof and that such chemical test or tests were made as an incident to and following the lawful arrest for an offense as defined in this Section or a similar provision of a local ordinance, and that the person after being arrested for an offense arising out of acts alleged to have been committed while so operating a watercraft refused to submit to and complete a chemical test or tests as requested by the law enforcement officer. 3.1. The law enforcement officer submitting the sworn statement as provided in paragraph 3 of this subsection (B) shall serve immediate written notice upon the person refusing the chemical test or tests that the person's privilege to operate a watercraft within this State will be suspended for a period of 2 years unless, within 28 days from the date of the notice, the person requests in writing a hearing on the suspension. If the person desires a hearing, such person shall file a complaint in the circuit court for and in the county in which such person was arrested for such hearing. Such hearing shall proceed in the court in the same manner as other civil proceedings, shall cover only the issues of whether the person was placed under arrest for an offense as defined in this Section or a similar provision of a local ordinance as evidenced by the issuance of a uniform citation; whether the arresting officer had reasonable grounds to believe that such person was operating a watercraft while under the influence of alcohol, other drug or drugs, intoxicating compound or compounds, or combination thereof; and whether such person refused to submit and complete the chemical test or tests upon the request of the law enforcement officer. Whether the person was informed that such person's privilege to operate a watercraft would be suspended if such person refused to submit to the chemical test or tests shall not be an issue. If the person fails to request in writing a hearing within 28 days from the date of notice, or if a hearing is held and the court finds against the person on the issues before the court, the clerk shall immediately notify the Department of Natural Resources, and the Department shall suspend the watercraft operation privileges of the person for at least 2 years. 3.2. If the person is a CDL holder and submits to a test that discloses an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more, or any amount of a drug, substance or intoxicating compound in the person's breath, blood, other bodily substance, or urine resulting from the unlawful use of cannabis listed in the Cannabis Control Act, a controlled substance listed in the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, methamphetamine as listed in the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act, or an intoxicating compound listed in the Use of Intoxicating Compounds Act, the law enforcement officer shall immediately submit a sworn report to the circuit clerk of venue and the Department of Natural Resources, certifying that the test or tests were requested under paragraph 1 of this subsection (B) and the person submitted to testing that disclosed an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more or any amount of a drug, substance or intoxicating compound in the person's breath, blood, other bodily substance, or urine resulting from the unlawful use of cannabis listed in the Cannabis Control Act, a controlled substance listed in the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, methamphetamine as listed in the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act, or an intoxicating compound listed in the Use of Intoxicating Compounds Act. If the person is not a CDL holder and submits to a test that discloses an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more, a tetrahydrocannabinol concentration in the person's whole blood or other bodily substance as defined in paragraph 6 of subsection (a) of Section 11-501.2 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, or any amount of a drug, substance or intoxicating compound in the person's breath, blood, other bodily substance, or urine resulting from the unlawful use of a controlled substance listed in the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, methamphetamine as listed in the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act, or an intoxicating compound listed in the Use of Intoxicating Compounds Act, the law enforcement officer shall immediately submit a sworn report to the circuit clerk of venue and the Department of Natural Resources, certifying that the test or tests were requested under paragraph 1 of this subsection (B) and the person submitted to testing that disclosed an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more, a tetrahydrocannabinol concentration in the person's whole blood or other bodily substance as defined in paragraph 6 of subsection (a) of Section 11-501.2 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, or any amount of a drug, substance or intoxicating compound in the person's breath, blood, other bodily substance, or urine resulting from the unlawful use of a controlled substance listed in the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, methamphetamine as listed in the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act, or an intoxicating compound listed in the Use of Intoxicating Compounds Act. In cases involving a person who is a CDL holder where the blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or greater or any amount of drug, substance or compound resulting from the unlawful use of cannabis, a controlled substance, methamphetamine, or an intoxicating compound is established by a subsequent analysis of blood, other bodily substance, or urine collected at the time of arrest, the arresting officer or arresting agency shall immediately submit a sworn report to the circuit clerk of venue and the Department of Natural Resources upon receipt of the test results. In cases involving a person who is not a CDL holder where the blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or greater, a tetrahydrocannabinol concentration in the person's whole blood or other bodily substance as defined in paragraph 6 of subsection (a) of Section 11-501.2 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, or any amount of drug, substance, or compound resulting from the unlawful use of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, or an intoxicating compound is established by a subsequent analysis of blood, other bodily substance, or urine collected at the time of arrest, the arresting officer or arresting agency shall immediately submit a sworn report to the circuit clerk of venue and the Department of Natural Resources upon receipt of the test results. 4. A person must submit to each chemical test offered by the law enforcement officer in order to comply with the implied consent provisions of this Section. 5. The provisions of Section 11-501.2 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, as amended, concerning the certification and use of chemical tests apply to the use of such tests under this Section. (C) Upon the trial of any civil or criminal action or proceeding arising out of acts alleged to have been committed by any person while operating a watercraft while under the influence of alcohol, other drug or drugs, intoxicating compound or compounds, or combination thereof, the concentration of alcohol, drug, or compound in the person's blood, other bodily substance, or breath at the time alleged as shown by analysis of a person's blood, urine, breath, or other bodily substance shall give rise to the presumptions specified in subdivisions 1, 2, and 3 of subsection (b) and subsection (b-5) of Section 11-501.2 of the Illinois Vehicle Code. The foregoing provisions of this subsection (C) shall not be construed as limiting the introduction of any other relevant evidence bearing upon the question whether the person was under the influence of alcohol, other drug or drugs, intoxicating compound or compounds, or a combination thereof. (D) If a person under arrest refuses to submit to a chemical test under the provisions of this Section, evidence of refusal shall be admissible in any civil or criminal action or proceeding arising out of acts alleged to have been committed while the person under the influence of alcohol, other drug or drugs, intoxicating compound or compounds, or combination of them was operating a watercraft. (E) The owner of any watercraft or any person given supervisory authority over a watercraft, may not knowingly permit a watercraft to be operated by any person under the influence of alcohol, other drug or drugs, intoxicating compound or compounds, or combination thereof. (F) Whenever any person is convicted or found guilty of a violation of this Section, including any person placed on court supervision, the court shall notify the Office of Law Enforcement of the Department of Natural Resources, to provide the Department with the records essential for the performance of the Department's duties to monitor and enforce any order of suspension or revocation concerning the privilege to operate a watercraft. (G) No person who has been arrested and charged for violating paragraph 1 of subsection (A) of this Section shall operate any watercraft within this State for a period of 24 hours after such arrest.

Legislative History

(Source: P.A. 102-145, eff. 7-23-21.)