10-40-200 Anchor dragging.

   All vessels, craft, or float while navigating the harbor shall not drag their anchors, nor shall any tugboat or towboat tow any vessel, craft, or float in the harbor whose anchor is dragging. The master, owner, or person in control of any vessel operated in violation of this section shall be fined not less than $500.00 nor more than $1,000.00 for each offense.

(Prior code § 38-24; Amend Coun. J. 11-24-20, p. 24619, Art. III, § 1)

10-40-210 Moving vessel before bridge opening.

   Whenever any person having charge of any vessel, craft, or float shall wish to move it past any bridge, reasonable time shall be allowed for the opening of the bridge, and any person who shall move any vessel, craft, or float against any bridge before it shall be opened and shall injure the bridge shall be liable to the city for that injury in addition to any fine which may be levied.

(Prior code § 38-25)

10-40-220 Names on boats.

   It shall be unlawful for any master, owner, or person in possession, charge, or control of any vessel, craft, or float to operate, navigate, keep, or maintain the same in the harbor unless the same shall have a name plainly and conspicuously displayed thereon which shall be large enough and in such a position as to be readily distinguishable and readable on both sides or from the rear thereof for a distance of at least 500 feet, and such name shall be of such distinctive character that any such vessel, craft, or float may be readily identified by it.

   Any person violating this section shall be fined $100.00 for each offense.

(Prior code § 38-26; Amend Coun. J. 11-24-20, p. 24619, Art. III, § 1)

10-40-230 Working vessel engines.

   No steam vessel or other power craft while lying in the harbor or along the wharves or docks of the same shall work its engines; provided, that owners, masters, or other persons in charge of boats fitting out and desirous of working and testing their engines shall, before working or testing any such engine, station some person in such a place or position as will enable him to signal the engineer to stop such engine. Such engine shall be kept from working until all approaching vessels, craft, or floats shall have passed the wheel of said boat or boats by a distance of 200 feet. These provisions shall not apply to cases of fire.

(Prior code § 38-27)

10-40-240 Smoking prohibited on waterfront.

   It shall be unlawful for any person to smoke, carry or possess a lighted cigarette, cigar, pipe or match upon any bulkhead, dock, shipyard, pier, wharf, warehouse or shed, except such portions thereof as may be designated by the harbormaster, or to smoke, carry or possess a lighted cigarette, cigar, pipe or match on board any ship, lighter, scow, or other similar floating craft or equipment when berthed or moored at any dock, wharf, pier, or to a vessel made fast thereto, within the harbor.

(Prior code § 38-27.1)

10-40-250 Boat whistles.

   Any vessel, craft, or float navigating the harbor shall be equipped with a whistle for signalling purposes which shall not be heard distinctly in ordinary weather at a distance of more than one-quarter of a mile. No person shall blow the whistle of any vessel, craft, or float at any time except as a signal to a bridge tender, or as a signal of danger, or as prescribed by the laws and regulations of the United States, and as provided by this Code.

(Prior code § 38-28)

10-40-260 Operation restrictions.

   No person shall operate, or authorize or knowingly permit the operation of, a vessel upon the waters of Lake Michigan or upon any waterway within the city:

      (a)   in such a manner as to endanger the life or limb, or damage the property, of others; or

      (b)   in such a careless or heedless manner as to be grossly indifferent to the person or property of others; or

      (c)   in such a manner as to disturb or destroy the peace and quiet of others; or

      (d)   within any area which has been marked by buoys or other distinguishing devices as a restricted area, except in case of emergency or for the purpose of entering or leaving any harbor or launching ramp; or

      (e)   within 150 feet of the shoreline of any public park or within 300 feet of any bathing beach, except in case of emergency or for the purpose of entering or leaving a pier, slip launching or docking area; or

      (f)   by a person under the age of 16 years unless properly supervised by an adult or as permitted by state law; or

      (g)   without yielding the right-of-way to any swimmer; or

      (h)   without complying with all applicable state and federal safety equipment requirements, including the requirements regarding personal flotation devices; or

      (i)   in violation of posted restrictions on wake or speed; or

      (j)   unless each occupant of a vessel used for recreational purposes is wearing an approved personal flotation device as defined in the Boat Registration and Safety Act, codified at 625 ILCS 45/1-l et seq., as amended. Provided, however, that this requirement shall not apply to persons who are (1) below deck, or (2) in a totally enclosed cabin space. Provided, further, that this requirement shall not apply to the occupants of (i) any commercial passenger vessel licensed under Chapter 4-250 of this Code, (ii) any vessel used for recreational purposes that is being operated on private property, (iii) any vessel used for recreational purposes that is docked, or (iv) any vessel used for recreational purposes that is 21 feet or more in length. For purposes of this subsection (j), the term "vessel used for recreational purposes" means any watercraft, sailboat, recreational boat, personal watercraft or specialty prop-craft as defined in the Boat Registration and Safety Act, as amended.

   Any person who shall violate any provision of this section shall be fined not less than $100.00 nor more than $1,500.00, or imprisoned for not less than ten days nor more than six months, or both, for each offense.

(Prior code § 38-29; Amend Coun. J. 12-10-97, p. 59008; Amend Coun. J. 9-9-09, p. 70529, § 1)