Last October bought a really nice, hardly used, mint condition 1987 Starcraft Nova pop-up camper from a lady off Cragislist.
She had never licenced, registered or titled it. Just hooked it up to the back of the Suburban and went camping when the mood hit. Did it several times a summer all over Northern Illiois and most of Wisconsin. Never stopped by the police, never questioned. Nothing.
She had bought it used from her brother's, sister-in-law's, second cousin, thrice removed, bowling team captain's, bartender's friend when they lived in Wisconsin in the early to mid 90's. No paperwork (title, registration, bill of sale, picture of them rubbing cheeseheads together to seal the deal) was done.
So I get her to fill out a bill of sale. From her to me. Says she can legally sell it and that I now own it.
Secretary of State's Office (Illlinois's DMV and Kickback Central when George Ryan was SOS, then Governor. He's redecorating and making room for his new roomie, Blago ) doesn't like the way it's worded.
So I go back to the lady with a reworded BOS. She signs again.
Back to the SOS office. Still don't like the wording, so I ask "Can you tell me what it should say, so we can get this done ?? I'm trying to do the right thing. I'm not asking for a break. Charge me whatever it costs to re-do title and registration. I'm trying to follow the law and do what is right here. I've got proof of insurance." (Yes, I added it to my USAA Policy, I'll tell that story later.) Nope, she/they can't help me.
Finally as I'm walking out, one of the ladies slips from behind the counter, stops me, takes the folder with all the paperwork in it. Crosses out this, and writes in that, gives me a smile and a wink.
Back to the seller with a re-written BOS. She signs again and asks how many more times will she have to sell the same trailer to me.
I assure that this will be the last, because if it don't work this time, Juan, Jesus, Julio and the rest of the boys may just have the trailer plates on their lawmower hauler "fall off".
Back into wait in line again at the SOS office. Wink and smile lady is not there. Crap. I'm willing to let others go in front as I wanted to go straight to her, knowing that she knew, that I knew, that she knew, that I knew. Get an older gentlemen and hand him my properly filled out 27-B-6 form, proof of insurance, and Bill of Sale. He barely glances at the top of the sheet that says "BILL OF SALE", turns and makes a copy and hands me the original back with the copy is quickly slipped beneath the 27-B-6 form and stapled to it. (Where it will, most likely, never see the light of day ever again.
) Writes $109.00 in the payment box, hits the form with Illinois SOS Office logo stamp, then the date/time stamp, then points me toward the line for the cashier.
My checking account $109 lighter, I walk out with a trailer plate, a 2010 sticker, a registration, and an overwhelming urge to drink, excessively. But this will have to do for now.
