Geneva Man Ran Charter Boat Business Without Proper License: Sheriff

GENEVA, IL — A Geneva man is facing charges after officials said he was operating a charter boat business without the proper licensing.

The Lake County Sheriff's Office Marine Unit deputies learned Clayton Star was transporting a group of people around the Chain O' Lakes on June 23 without captain's license, which is required under federal regulations. Star charged the group $500 for two hours of charter boat services.

Deputies also determined Star did not have the required boating safety equipment onboard his boat. Star has likely been soliciting fares at local businesses on the Chain O' Lakes, officials said.

The Geneva man was cited for operating a watercraft for hire without a license, operating a watercraft without proper equipment, failure to pay license fees, failure to display a license and other boating violations.

He is due to appear in court July 17.

Authorities urged residents to check to make sure the driver of a charter boat has the proper licensing and equipment before hiring them. The driver should have an operator of uninspected passenger vessels license, also referred to as a "six-pack license" or charter boat captain’s license.

Police said if the operator refuses to show this documentation, you should "be very wary."

"As we all know, the water can be a very dangerous place, which is why it is very important those soliciting business on the waterways have the required training, experience, and licensing," Lake County Sheriff John Idleburg said in a statement. "It is incredibly reckless to be soliciting boating fares without the proper licensing or boating equipment."