625 ILCS 5/ Illinois Vehicle Code.

(625 ILCS 5/5-403.1) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 5-403.1)

Sec. 5-403.1. Inventory system.

(a) Every person licensed or required to be licensed under the provisions of Sections 5-101, 5-101.1, 5-102, 5-102.8, and 5-301 of this Code shall, under rule and regulation prescribed by the Secretary of State, maintain an inventory system of all vehicles or essential parts in such a manner that a person making an inspection pursuant to the provisions of Section 5-403 of this Code can readily ascertain the identity of such vehicles or essential parts and readily locate such parts on the licensees premises.

(b) Failure to maintain an inventory system as required under this Section is a Class A misdemeanor.

(c) This Section does not apply to vehicles or essential parts which have been acquired by a scrap processor for processing into a form other than a vehicle or essential part.

(Source: P.A. 101-505, eff. 1-1-20.)

(625 ILCS 5/5-404)

Sec. 5-404. Injunctions. The Illinois Attorney General or the State's Attorney for the county in which the scrap processor is located may initiate an appropriate action in the circuit court of the county in which a scrap processor is located to prevent the unlawful operation of a scrap processor, or to restrain, correct, or abate a violation of this Act, or to prevent any illegal act or conduct by the scrap processor.

(Source: P.A. 95-979, eff. 1-2-09.)

(625 ILCS 5/Ch. 5 Art. V heading) ARTICLE V. LICENSES--INJUNCTIONS

(625 ILCS 5/5-501) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 5-501)

Sec. 5-501. Denial, suspension or revocation or cancellation of a license.

(a) The license of a person issued under this Chapter may be denied, revoked or suspended if the Secretary of State finds that the applicant, or the officer, director, shareholder having a ten percent or greater ownership interest in the corporation, owner, partner, trustee, manager, employee or the licensee has:

1. Violated this Act;

2. Made any material misrepresentation to the Secretary of State in connection with an application for a license, junking certificate, salvage certificate, title or registration;

3. Committed a fraudulent act in connection with selling, bartering, exchanging, offering for sale or otherwise dealing in vehicles, chassis, essential parts, or vehicle shells;

4. As a new vehicle dealer has no contract with a manufacturer or enfranchised distributor to sell that new vehicle in this State;

5. Not maintained an established place of business as defined in this Code;

6. Failed to file or produce for the Secretary of State any application, report, document or other pertinent books, records, documents, letters, contracts, required to be filed or produced under this Code or any rule or regulation made by the Secretary of State pursuant to this Code;

7. Previously had, within 3 years, such a license denied, suspended, revoked, or cancelled under the provisions of subsection (c)(2) of this Section;

8. Has committed in any calendar year 3 or more violations, as determined in any civil or criminal proceeding, of any one or more of the following Acts:

a. the "Consumer Finance Act";

b. the "Consumer Installment Loan Act";

c. the "Retail Installment Sales Act";

d. the "Motor Vehicle Retail Installment Sales Act";

e. "An Act in relation to the rate of interest and other charges in connection with sales on credit and the lending of money", approved May 24, 1879, as amended;

f. "An Act to promote the welfare of wage-earners by regulating the assignment of wages, and prescribing a penalty for the violation thereof", approved July 1, 1935, as amended;

g. Part 8 of Article XII of the Code of Civil Procedure; or

h. the "Consumer Fraud Act";

9. Failed to pay any fees or taxes due under this Act, or has failed to transmit any fees or taxes received by him for transmittal by him to the Secretary of State or the State of Illinois;

10. Converted an abandoned vehicle;

11. Used a vehicle identification plate or number assigned to a vehicle other than the one to which originally assigned;

12. Violated the provisions of Chapter 5 of this Act, as amended;

13. Violated the provisions of Chapter 4 of this Act, as amended;

14. Violated the provisions of Chapter 3 of this Act, as amended;

15. Violated Section 21-2 of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012, Criminal Trespass to Vehicles;

16. Made or concealed a material fact in connection with his application for a license;

17. Acted in the capacity of a person licensed or acted as a licensee under this Chapter without having a license therefor;

18. Failed to pay, within 90 days after a final judgment, any fines assessed against the licensee pursuant to an action brought under Section 5-404;

19. Failed to pay the Dealer Recovery Trust Fund fee under Section 5-102.7 of this Code;

20. Failed to pay, within 90 days after notice has been given, any fine or fee owed as a result of an administrative citation issued by the Secretary under this Code;

21. Violated Article 16 or 17 of the Criminal Code of 2102;

22. Was convicted of a forcible felony under either the Criminal Code of 1961 or Criminal Code of 2012 or convicted of a similar out-of-state offense.

(b) In addition to other grounds specified in this Chapter, the Secretary of State, on complaint of the Department of Revenue, shall refuse the issuance or renewal of a license, or suspend or revoke such license, for any of the following violations of the "Retailers' Occupation Tax Act", the tax imposed on corporations under subsection (b) of Section 201 of the Illinois Income Tax Act, the Personal Property Tax Replacement Income Tax imposed under subsections (c) and (d) of Section 201 of the Illinois Income Tax Act, or the tax imposed under Section 704A of the Illinois Income Tax Act:

1. Failure to make a tax return;

2. The filing of a fraudulent return;

3. Failure to pay all or part of any tax or penalty finally determined to be due;

4. Failure to comply with the bonding requirements of the "Retailers' Occupation Tax Act".

(b-1) In addition to other grounds specified in this Chapter, the Secretary of State, on complaint of the Motor Vehicle Review Board, shall refuse the issuance or renewal of a license, or suspend or revoke that license, if costs or fees assessed under Section 29 or Section 30 of the Motor Vehicle Franchise Act have remained unpaid for a period in excess of 90 days after the licensee received from the Motor Vehicle Board a second notice and demand for the costs or fees. The Motor Vehicle Review Board must send the licensee written notice and demand for payment of the fees or costs at least 2 times, and the second notice and demand must be sent by certified mail.

(c) Cancellation of a license.

1. The license of a person issued under this Chapter may be cancelled by the Secretary of State prior to its expiration in any of the following situations:

A. When a license is voluntarily surrendered, by the licensed person; or

B. If the business enterprise is a sole proprietorship, which is not a franchised dealership, when the sole proprietor dies or is imprisoned for any period of time exceeding 30 days; or

C. If the license was issued to the wrong person or corporation, or contains an error on its face. If any person above whose license has been cancelled wishes to apply for another license, whether during the same license year or any other year, that person shall be treated as any other new applicant and the cancellation of the person's prior license shall not, in and of itself, be a bar to the issuance of a new license.

2. The license of a person issued under this Chapter may be cancelled without a hearing when the Secretary of State is notified that the applicant, or any officer, director, shareholder having a 10 per cent or greater ownership interest in the corporation, owner, partner, trustee, manager, employee or member of the applicant or the licensee has been convicted of any felony involving the selling, bartering, exchanging, offering for sale, or otherwise dealing in vehicles, chassis, essential parts, vehicle shells, or ownership documents relating to any of the above items.

(Source: P.A. 101-505, eff. 1-1-20.)

(625 ILCS 5/5-501.5)

Sec. 5-501.5. License eligibility; fraud.

(a) For purposes of this Section, an "automotive parts recycler, scrap processor, repairer, or rebuilder" includes any owners, operators, principals, shareholders, partners, or directors that have ownership interest or managerial authority in the business at the time the fraud or misconduct occurred.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, an automotive parts recycler, scrap processor, repairer, or rebuilder with a business license issued by a municipality that has been revoked or nonrenewed due to fraud or misconduct committed against the municipality within 3 years preceding the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly or on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly shall not be eligible for a license or license renewal under Section 5-301 of this Code.

(c) No later than 30 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly, a municipality that has revoked or nonrenewed a business license under subsection (b) of this Section shall:

(1) notify the Secretary of State of the revocation or nonrenewal; and

(2) notify any other municipality in which the former licensee is known to conduct business that the former licensee's business license has been revoked or nonrenewed due to fraud or misconduct committed against the municipality.

(d) No later than 30 days after receiving a notice required under paragraph (2) of subsection (c) of this Section, a municipality shall take all actions necessary to revoke or, if the business license is set to expire within a 30-day period of the notice, prohibit renewal of the licensee's business license.

(d-5) No later than 30 days after receiving notice under paragraph (1) of subsection (c) of this Section, the Secretary shall notify the former licensee that it is not eligible to conduct business in this State as an automotive parts recycler, scrap processor, repairer, or rebuilder.

(e) An automotive parts recycler, scrap processor, repairer, or rebuilder shall be fined $1,000 for each day it conducts business in this State in violation of this Section.

(f) No unit of local government, including a home rule unit, may regulate business licenses in a manner inconsistent with this Section. This subsection (f) is a limitation under subsection (i) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution on the concurrent exercise by home rule units of powers and functions exercised by the State.

(Source: P.A. 100-409, eff. 8-25-17.)

(625 ILCS 5/5-502) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 5-502)

Sec. 5-502. Injunctions. If any person operates in violation of any provision of this Chapter, or any rule, regulation, order or decision of the Secretary of State, or of any term, condition or limitation of any license, the Secretary of State, or any person injured thereby, or any interested person, may apply to the Circuit Court of the county in which such violation or some part thereof occurred, or in which the person complained of has his established or additional place of business or resides, to prevent such violation. The Court has jurisdiction to enforce obedience by injunction or other process restraining such person from further violation and enjoining upon him obedience.

(Source: P.A. 86-444.)

(625 ILCS 5/5-503) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 5-503)

Sec. 5-503. Failure to obtain dealer's license, operation of a business with a suspended or revoked license.

(a) Any person operating a business for which he is required to be licensed under Section 5-101, 5-101.2, 5-102, 5-102.8, 5-201, or 5-301 who fails to apply for such a license or licenses within 15 days after being informed in writing by the Secretary of State that he must obtain such a license or licenses is subject to a civil action brought by the Secretary of State for operating a business without a license in the circuit court in the county in which the business is located. If the person is found to be in violation of Section 5-101, 5-101.2, 5-102, 5-102.8, 5-201, or 5-301 by carrying on a business without being properly licensed, that person shall be fined $300 for each business day he conducted his business without such a license after the expiration of the 15-day period specified in this subsection (a).

(b) Any person who, having had his license or licenses issued under Section 5-101, 5-101.2, 5-102, 5-201, or 5-301 suspended, revoked, nonrenewed, cancelled, or denied by the Secretary of State under Section 5-501 or 5-501.5 of this Code, continues to operate business after the effective date of such revocation, nonrenewal, suspension, cancellation, or denial may be sued in a civil action by the Secretary of State in the county in which the established or additional place of such business is located. Except as provided in subsection (e) of Section 5-501.5 of this Code, if such person is found by the court to have operated such a business after the license or licenses required for conducting such business have been suspended, revoked, nonrenewed, cancelled, or denied, that person shall be fined $500 for each day he conducted business thereafter.

(Source: P.A. 100-409, eff. 8-25-17; 100-450, eff. 1-1-18; 100-863, eff. 8-14-18; 101-505, eff. 1-1-20.)

(625 ILCS 5/5-504) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 5-504)

Sec. 5-504. Effect of revoked or denied license - Notification to prospective buyers - Rescinding of contracts. (a) No license shall be issued to any person to conduct the business of a new vehicle dealer, used vehicle dealer, scrap processor, automotive parts recycler, repairer, or rebuilder at a location or at property at which that person or any other person had his license as a new vehicle dealer, used vehicle dealer, scrap processor, automotive parts recycler, repairer, or rebuilder revoked or denied after a revocation or pending revocation within 2 months after such revocation or denial.

(b) A licensee who has been notified by the Secretary of State that the Secretary of State may take action to revoke the dealer's license or licenses of that licensee shall inform in writing any prospective buyer of his business of such possible action by the Secretary of State.

(c) If any person purchases or contracts to purchase a business required to be licensed by Section 5-101, 5-102, 5-201 or 5-301 without being informed in writing by the prior owner or owners that, at the time of the sale or making of contract to purchase, the prior owner or owners had been informed by the Secretary of State that the Secretary of State may be taking action to revoke the license or licenses of the prior owner or owners, the person who has purchased or contracted to purchase such business may, within one year after being informed that his application for a dealer's license at that location had been denied due to the revocation of the license or licenses of any prior owner or owners, rescind the purchase or contract to purchase such business or the property, both real and otherwise, at which the business is located.

(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this Section, the Secretary of State may issue a license to a person applying for a license as a new vehicle dealer, used vehicle dealer, scrap processor, automotive parts recycler, repairer or rebuilder if the Secretary of State, solely in his discretion, determines that a denial of the license under the circumstances would place extreme undue hardship upon the applicant.

No license shall be issued under this subsection to a person who is a spouse, offspring, sibling, parent, grandparent, grandchild, uncle or aunt, nephew or niece, cousin or in-law of the person whose license to do business at that location had been revoked or denied nor to a person who was an officer or employee of the business firm in relation to which the license was revoked or denied.

Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (e) of Section 2-118 of this Code, the venue for judicial review of final acts or decisions under this subsection shall be the Circuit Court of Sangamon County.

(Source: P.A. 84-1302; 84-1304.)

(625 ILCS 5/5-505)

Sec. 5-505. License suspension or revocation; penalty. The Secretary shall suspend the license of any licensee under this Chapter who permits an individual who is not an authorized agent or employee of the licensee to use the license of the licensee to purchase a vehicle from an auction. The suspension shall be for a period of no less than 30 days for the first violation. Upon a second or subsequent violation, the Secretary shall revoke the license of the licensee.

(Source: P.A. 102-154, eff. 1-1-22.)

(625 ILCS 5/Ch. 5 Art. VI heading) ARTICLE VI. CREDIT OR CONDITIONAL SALES--INSURANCE

(625 ILCS 5/5-601) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 5-601)

Sec. 5-601. Credit or conditional sale of certain motor vehicles - Liability insurance status stamped on bill of sale. Whenever, in connection with the credit sale of or conditional sale of a motor vehicle designed and used for the carrying of not more than 10 passengers, the agreement provides that all or any of the consideration to be paid by the buyer or conditional buyer may be paid more than 30 days after possession of such motor vehicle is transferred to such buyer or conditional buyer, and a policy of insurance which does not cover such buyer or conditional buyer for the risk of liability to the public arising out of the operation, use or maintenance of such motor vehicle, is issued in connection with such transaction, the seller or conditional seller shall stamp or have imprinted thereon a statement on the bill of sale at the time the transaction is consummated that no such coverage is included in such policy. Such statement shall be in the following form and shall be in bold type not less than one-half inch in height: NO PUBLIC LIABILITY INSURANCE ISSUED WITH THIS TRANSACTION (Source: P.A. 76-1586.)

(625 ILCS 5/5-602) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 5-602)

Sec. 5-602. Whoever violates any of the provisions of this Article shall be guilty of a petty offense and shall be fined not more than $500.

(Source: P.A. 77-2720.)

(625 ILCS 5/Ch. 5 Art. VII heading) ARTICLE VII. VEHICLE AUCTIONEERS

(625 ILCS 5/5-700) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 5-700)

Sec. 5-700. Definitions. For the purposes of this Article, the following phrases have the meanings ascribed to them in this Section:

Place of business for a vehicle auctioneer. This means the place owned and regularly occupied by a vehicle auctioneer licensee, within or without the State, for the primary and principal purpose of keeping and maintaining the books and records required for the conduct of business, with the personnel available during normal business hours or an automatic telephone answering service during normal business hours. The additional place of business means that place within the State where the auction is held, which place of business shall contain the books and records required for said auction with personnel available during normal business hours. The Secretary of State shall be notified of the additional place of business at least 10 days before the auction.

Auctioning vehicles. This means arranging for and handling the sale of vehicles, not the property of the auctioneer, by auction to the highest bidder.

(Source: P.A. 89-663, eff. 8-14-96.)

(625 ILCS 5/5-701) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 5-701)

Sec. 5-701. Vehicle auctioneers to be licensed. (a) No person, other than a licensed new vehicle dealer, a licensed used vehicle dealer, or municipality, shall engage in this State in the business of auctioning vehicles, for more than one owner, at auction or shall offer to sell, solicit or advertise the sale of a vehicle at auction without first acquiring a commercial vehicle auctioneer license from the Secretary of State under the provisions of this Section. A vehicle auction licensee shall be entitled thereunder to sell, solicit, and advertise the sale of used vehicles belonging to others at auction.

(b) An application for a vehicle auctioneer license shall be filed with the Secretary of State, duly verified by oath, in such form as the Secretary of State may by rule or regulation prescribe and shall contain:

1. The name and type of business organization established and the address of the place of business;

2. If the applicant is a corporation, a list of its officers and directors, setting forth the residence address of each; if the applicant is a sole proprietorship, a partnership, an unincorporated association, trust or any similar form of business organization, the names and residence addresses of the proprietor or of each partner, member, officer, director, trustee, manager and shareholder having 10% or greater ownership interest in the corporation;

3. A statement that the applicant has been approved for registration under the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act, approved June 28, 1933, as amended, by the Department of Revenue. However, this requirement does not apply to licensee who is already licensed hereunder with the Secretary of State, and who is merely applying for a renewal of his license. As evidence of this fact, the application shall be accompanied by a certification from the Department of Revenue showing that the Department has approved the applicant for registration under the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act;

4. A statement that the applicant has complied with the bonding requirements of the "Retailers' Occupation Tax Act", approved June 28, 1933, as amended. As evidence of this fact, the application shall be accompanied by a certification from the Department of Revenue showing that the applicant is in compliance with the bonding requirements of the "Retailers' Occupation Tax Act" or that the applicant is not required to be bonded with the Department of Revenue under the "Retailers' Occupation Tax Act";

5. Such other information concerning the business of the applicant as the Secretary of State may by rule or regulation prescribe;

6. An application for a vehicle auctioneer license shall be accompanied by the following license fees: $50 for applicant's place of business plus $25 for each additional place of business, if any, to which the application pertains, provided, however, that if such an application is made after July 1 of any year, the license fee shall be $25 for applicant's place of business plus $12.50 for each additional place of business, if any, to which the application pertains. License fees shall be returnable only in the event that such application shall be denied by the Secretary of State.

7. A statement that the licensee has irrevocably consented to the appointment of the Secretary of State as its agent for service of process with the State of Illinois. Said service of process shall be accomplished as provided in Section 10-301 of the Illinois Vehicle Code.

(c) Any change which renders no longer accurate any information contained in any application for a vehicle auctioneer shall be amended within thirty days after the occurrence of each change on such form as the Secretary of State may prescribe by rule or regulation, accompanied by an amendatory fee of $2.

(d) Anything in this Chapter to the contrary notwithstanding, no person shall be licensed as a vehicle auctioneer unless such person shall maintain a place of business as defined in this Chapter.

(e) The Secretary of State shall, within a reasonable time after receipt, examine an application submitted to him under this Section. Unless the Secretary makes a determination that the application submitted to him does not conform to this Section or that grounds exist for a denial of the application under Section 5-501 of this Chapter, he must grant the applicant an original vehicle auctioneer license in writing for his place of business and a supplemental license in writing for each additional place of business, in such form as he may prescribe by rule or regulation which shall include the following:

1. The name of the person licensed;

2. If a corporation, the name and address of its officers or if a sole proprietorship, a partnership, an unincorporated association or any similar form of business organization, the name and address of the proprietor or of each partner, member, officer, director, trustee or manager;

3. Complete address of the place of business of the licensee;

4. In the case of supplemental license, the place of business of the licensee and the place of business to which such supplemental license pertains.

(f) The appropriate instruments evidencing the license or a certified copy thereof, provided by the Secretary of State shall be kept posted, conspicuously, in the place of business of the licensee within the State and in each additional place of business, if any, maintained by such licensee.

(g) Except as provided in subsection (h) of this Section, all vehicle auctioneer licenses granted under this Section expire on December 31 of the calendar year for which they are granted unless sooner revoked under Section 5-501 of this Chapter.

(h) a vehicle auctioneer license may be renewed upon application and payment of the fee required herein, and submission of proof of coverage by an approved bond under the "Retailers' Occupation Tax Act" or proof that applicant is not subject to such bonding requirements, as in the case of an original license, but in case an application for the renewal of an effective license is made during the month of December, the effective license shall remain in force until the application for renewal is granted or denied by the Secretary of State.

(i) Each person licensed as a vehicle auctioneer or a licensed new or used car dealer when auctioning vehicles is required to furnish each purchaser of a motor vehicle the following:

1. A certificate of title properly assigned to the purchaser;

2. A statement verified under oath that all identifying numbers on the vehicle agree with those on the certificate of title;

3. A bill of sale properly executed on behalf of such person.

(Source: P.A. 85-1396.)

(625 ILCS 5/5-702) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 5-702)

Sec. 5-702. No person shall engage in the business of auctioning any vehicles for which a salvage certificate is required by law except to a bidder who is an out-of-state salvage vehicle buyer or who is properly licensed as a rebuilder, automotive parts recycler, or scrap processor, as required by Section 5-301 of this Chapter.

(Source: P.A. 95-783, eff. 1-1-09.)

(625 ILCS 5/Ch. 5 Art. VIII heading) ARTICLE VIII. PENALTIES

(625 ILCS 5/5-801) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 5-801)

Sec. 5-801. Criminal penalties. Any person who violates any of the provisions of this Chapter, except a person who violates a provision for which a different criminal penalty is indicated, is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. Any person who violates subsection (e) of Section 5-202 is guilty of a Class C misdemeanor. Any person who violates any provisions of Section 5-701 is guilty of a Class 3 felony.

(Source: P.A. 100-725, eff. 8-3-18.)

(625 ILCS 5/5-802) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 5-802)

Sec. 5-802. The violation of any rule or regulation promulgated by the Office of the Secretary of State under this Chapter shall not in and of itself constitute a criminal offense.

(Source: P.A. 85-1204.)

(625 ILCS 5/5-803)

Sec. 5-803. Administrative penalties. Instead of filing a criminal complaint against a new or used vehicle dealer, or against any other entity licensed by the Secretary under this Code, or any other unlicensed entity acting in violation of this Code, a Secretary of State Police investigator may issue administrative citations for violations of any of the provisions of this Code or any administrative rule adopted by the Secretary under this Code. A party receiving a citation shall have the right to contest the citation in proceedings before the Secretary of State Department of Administrative Hearings. Penalties imposed by issuance of an administrative citation shall not exceed $50 per violation. A penalty may not be imposed unless, during the course of a single investigation or upon review of the party's records, the party is found to have committed at least 3 separate violations of one or more of the provisions of this Code or any administrative rule adopted by the Secretary under this Code. Penalties paid as a result of the issuance of administrative citations shall be deposited in the Secretary of State Police Services Fund.

(Source: P.A. 101-572, eff. 8-23-19.)