Boating Safety Colleagues,
I wanted to give you a quick update on what the Office of Auxiliary & Boating Safety is doing to promote awareness of the engine cut-off switch issues. As most are aware, an ECOS installation requirement went into effect in Dec 2019, and an ECOS use requirement goes into effect on 1 Apr 2021. These requirements can be found in 46 USC 4312.
We are currently finalizing an issue paper and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document that will be used to draft a USCG press release and other materials to promote awareness of the impending ECOS wear requirement. This is a federal requirement, so state and local marine police cannot enforce it. However, since there is now a federal requirement, state and local laws are most likely preempted. We believe there are 7 states that have ECOS laws applicable in some manner to "traditional" motorboats. We also believe that there are at least 44 states that have PWC-specific ECOS laws. Our intention is to pursue exemptions from preemption for all state laws that meet the spirit of the federal laws, which should be the overwhelming majority of states with ECOS laws.
We hope to have more information out soon. If you have any immediate questions, please contact me at
jeffrey.a.ludwig@uscg.mil. Thanks!
Jeff
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Jeff Ludwig
Chief, Recreational Boating Product Assurance Branch
US Coast Guard
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Original Message:
Sent: 02-22-2021 09:37 AM
From: Curt Lewis
Subject: Engine Cutoff Lanyards
The State of Illinois has had a lanyard law in effect since 2010. I have attached the legislative language here.
(625 ILCS 45/4-11) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 314-11)
Sec. 4-11. Engine cut-off switch.
(a) As used in this Section:
"Engine cut-off switch link" means the lanyard or wireless cut-off device used to attach the motorboat operator to the engine cut-off switch installed on the motorboat.
"Engine cut-off switch" means an operational emergency cut-off engine stop switch installed on a motorboat that attaches to a motorboat operator by an engine cut-off switch link.
(b) No person may operate any motor boat, including personal watercraft or specialty prop-craft, equipped with an engine cut-off switch while the engine is running and the motorboat is underway without verifying that the engine cut-off switch is operational and fully-functional and:
(1) the engine cut-off switch link is properly
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| attached to his or her person, clothing or worn PFD, as appropriate for the specific vessel; or
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(2) activating the wireless cut-off system.
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Curt Lewis
Lieutenant
Illinois Conservation Police
Original Message:
Sent: 02-19-2021 09:39 AM
From: Chris Edmonston
Subject: Engine Cutoff Lanyards
So...
We have a new federal engine cutoff lanyard requirement coming to a waterway near you very soon! What will your state/local agency do? Will you:
- Try to change your state code to match?
- Adopt by reference in your regulations?
- Do nothing?
Can anyone even enforce the regulation if it's not in your state/local code?
We are getting TONS of calls here at BoatU.S. asking what's going on!
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Chris Edmonston
President
BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety & Clean Water
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