Illinois Statutes Chapter 625. Vehicles § 45/5-21. Passenger location

§ 5-21. Passenger location. No person operating a motorboat shall allow a person in the motorboat to ride or sit on the gunwales, tops of seat backs, or on the decking over the bow or stern of the motorboat while the motorboat is underway, unless the person is inboard of guards or rails provided on the motorboat to prevent passengers from being lost overboard.

Nothing in this Section shall be construed to prohibit entry upon the decking over the bow or stern of the motorboat for the purpose of anchoring, mooring, or casting off or some other necessary purpose nor to prohibit customary practices while lawfully engaged in commercial fishing under the provisions of the Fish and Aquatic Life Code  1 or hunting and trapping under the provisions of the Wildlife Code.  2

The provisions of this Section shall not apply to the driver of the boat, a person while fishing or to a person on private property.