7.0 LAKE VILLA TOWNSHIP – BOAT LAUNCH USE RULES
SECTION I BOATING REGULATIONS
The provisions of the State of Illinois Boat Registration and Safety Act, as now enacted or hereafter amended, are incorporated by reference and made a part of these regulations as fully as if set forth verbatim herein.
1. GENERAL REGULATIONS
(a) Every boat operator is required to know the Boat Registration and Safety Act, and any violation of such act is a violation of these regulations. You are reminded, for example, that proper lights must be displayed on any boats operating between sunset and sunrise.
(b) The racing of power boats is not permitted.
(c) No boat shall be operated in any restricted areas which are marked by buoys, rafts or other appropriate designation.
(d) No docking or beaching of boats is permitted in any area, or on the shoreline of a privately owned lot unless the owner has previously given permission. Temporary beaching is allowed at the launch site only for the purpose of loading and unloading of boats.
(e) Any boat operator involved in a boating accident must report such accident to the Lake County Sheriff’s Department. The Sheriff’s Department enforces boating regulations and will be ticketing boaters on Miltmore and Sand Lakes.
2. REGISTRATION OF BOATS
(a) Any boat operated upon the lake must be registered with the State of Illinois. All such boats must clearly display the State Registration number.
3. SPEED LIMITS
(a) Boats must never exceed a speed which is safe and reasonable for the prevailing conditions, and never above 40 M.P.H.
(b) No boat should exceed a slow, “NO WAKE” speed while within an absolute minimum of 100 feet from the shoreline of restricted areas. “NO WAKE” means flat water without any froth behind the boat, a maximum of 5 M.P.H.
(c) No power boat should exceed a speed of 10 M.P.H. before 10:00 A.M.
(d) Traffic flow for Powerboats should be in a generally counterclockwise direction around the lake.
SECTION II WATER SKIING REGULATIONS
1. GENERAL REGULATIONS
(a) The provisions of the State of Illinois Boat Registration and Safety Act, as now enacted or hereafter amended, are incorporated by reference and made a part of these regulations as fully as if set forth verbatim herein and have been adopted by the Board to be applicable to all water skiing activities on the lake. Any violation of State Law is a violation of these regulations.
(b) Neither a Powerboat towing a skier nor the towed skier may enter any “NO WAKE” restricted areas which are marked by buoys or other appropriate designation.
(c) All skiers must remain 100 feet from the shore or 50 feet outwardly of buoys, rafts or other markers designating restricted areas.
(d) The intentional “dropping” of one or more skis is not permitted except down-wind and within 100 feet outwardly of the shoreline or 50 feet outwardly of the buoys, rafts or other restricted areas.
(e) Ski “STARTS” and “STOPS” must not begin or end at the Lake Villa Township owned shoreline.
(f) When towing a person on skis, tubes, etc., a driver and at least one observer must be in the boat.
2. HOURS FOR SKIING
(a) No water skiing should take place before 10:00 A.M. Illinois law prohibits water skiing after sundown.
SECTION III SWIMMING FROM A BOAT
Any swimmers beyond buoyed areas shall only be from a boat and accompanied by at least one observer.
SECTION IV INTOXICATION; DRUG USAGE
No person shall operate a watercraft while the alcohol concentration in such person’s blood or breath is 0.08 or more based on the definition of blood and breath units in section 11-501.2 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, as amended; or any other drug to the degree which renders them incapable of safely operating such watercraft.
SECTION V BOAT LAUNCH GATES
1. Locked gates are in place at the Lake Miltmore and Sand Lake Boat Launches. Keys to the boat launch gates may be purchased at the township office annually beginning April 1st. Proof of residency and vehicle registration are required to purchase a key and receive a vehicle sticker. Current Lake Villa Township vehicle stickers must be displayed on vehicles when parking at boat launches or swimming beaches. Boat launch users must ensure that the gate is locked after launching and upon removal of the watercraft to prevent unauthorized use of the lake.
2. Boat Launch keys will fit both Sand Lake and Lake Miltmore Launches. Your key is for your personal use only. Transferring or loaning your key to unauthorized individuals shall result in suspension of your launch use privileges.