Andrade Cracks Down on Illegal, Stolen Vehicle Dealers in Newly Passed Legislation

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Jaime Andrade, D-Chicago, worked to strengthen protections for consumers that unwittingly buy vehicles with removed or altered vehicle identification numbers (VIN), continuing his commitment to comprehensive carjacking and vehicular crime measures.

“Current law unfortunately allows too many fly by night dealers to operate conspicuously, sell vehicles that are not their own – or, are outright illegal – and put motorists at risk,”  Andrade said. “There could be countless motorists driving cars of which they know nothing about and could face high insurance or healthcare costs should the worst happen. This is a fundamental threat to the safety of motorists and pedestrians alike. I am proud to support legislation that would not only empower law enforcement to better combat this issue but also ultimately save lives.”

The Andrade-backed House Bill 2751 will prohibit unlicensed, fly by night dealers from selling vehicles in high-traffic areas such as public streets and parking lots and vehicles with altered, removed or defaced VIN numbers. These dealers typically sell out of state cars with temporary paper plates and do not own a building or lot on which they are required to sell from. These unlicensed dealers would be fined between $1,000 and $3,000 for violating either, or both, of these measures. Furthermore, the legislation creates the Unlicensed Motor Vehicle Dealer Enforcement Task Force to review enforcement measures and create recommendations for future consumer protections.

“Licensed dealers with brick and mortar dealerships are knowledgeable of the cars they’re selling, where they come from and who they’re selling to,” Andrade said. “When consumers do not have access to that kind of information and buy from strangers on a neighborhood street or in a grocery store parking lot, the lives of not only themselves but the people around them are at risk. I look forward to the governor’s final signature, so that we can better protect everyone on our streets and in our intersections.”

House Bill 2751 passed both House and Senate chambers unanimously and now awaits final approval by Governor Pritzker. For more information, visit ILGA.gov.