Chicago’s boating community is facing the prospect of a new ordinance that could require life jackets for all on the city’s waterways. In the wake of a fatal drowning last month, Ald. Stephanie Coleman has put forward a proposal that mandates wearing of personal flotation devices while aboard any boat on Lake Michigan and other Chicago waterways, potentially incurring a fine of up to $500 for non-compliance.
As the Chicago Sun-Times reports, the ordinance is a response to the tragic loss of 27-year-old stylist Zahrie Walls, who fell into Lake Michigan without a life jacket. The measure is intended to prevent similar incidents, although critics are concerned about its vagueness and enforceability. David Salk, a sailing captain, concurred with Mike McElroy, president of the Chicago Harbor Safety Committee, about potential hazards, stating, “By making people wear life jackets all the time, you may be creating more of a safety hazard in some cases.”
According to NBC Chicago, Chicago’s boating life has grown significantly, prompting calls for increased safety measures. Enforcing such an ordinance poses its own challenges, as McElroy points out the lack of search and rescue resources. “Are there enough search and rescue to be able to respond to the number of calls that are happening?” he inquired in an NBC Chicago interview…