Chicagoland Sportbike Forums banner
Cancel
Create thread New Forums

So I get a letter from cook county

Jump to Latest
81 - 100 of 107 Posts
#81 · (Edited)
The car doesn't have to work. If it has a valid plate you are required to have a valid city sticker if you live in the city. Period. They can violate you by mail off of computer records
If you were to leave a non working car (or any vehicle) that is titled in your name in your garage and after 5 years repair it, then go to the Sec. of state to get a valid plate you would either have to pay the license fees for the 5 years it sat in your garage or you would have to produce legit paid bills that the car was in storage for that time. Sitting in your garage is not considered storage! They WILL check so they have to be legit bills.( Also, whatever you do DON"T EVER TELL THE SoS THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RACED OR USED OFF ROAD WHILE IT WASN'T REGISTERED!!!)
We're talking about how the city, state and county raise revenue to provide services etc. They are all broke and saddled with deep debt. They don't take it lightly and come down hard on anyone that tries to circumvent their legal taxes and fees. They don't have a sense of humor with those who evade paying. Fines and penalties are stiff for a reason...they want you to pay gladly in the knowledge that if you don't they'll get much, much more from you in fines and penalties. It's so easy in the computer age to cross reference that the city of Chicago captured at least several hundreds of thousands in formally un-purchased city sticker revenue last year.

There are 2 ways we can change at least part of all this...petition our elected officials to make changes and ELECT NEW officials that will spend less and tax less!

The city can go back 7 years because (I was told by a source I believe) that's the statute of limitation on the violation. If they could go back further I'm sure they would!

I'm not judging you...I've experienced some of this first hand and had to pay out the wahzoo! So...be forewarned before you try to hatch a scheme to evade paying!...That's all I'm sayin'!
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
Discussion starter · #82 ·
Interesting info u stated. I'll definely take that info and run it with the guys that I know that do said things and get some detailed info.

I do agree its very easy to cross reference things. But most people at SOS is dumb as shit. They would need to outsource this if anything.

I've gotten a paper in the mail asking for city sticker but it had " if vehicle is sold/no longer in possession disregard" and I did legit sell the motorcycle at said time.

Let me run this scenario by you. Say I live in Chicago, my DL says that. I own a vacation home that I use 2 summer months in WI. The WI county I live in doesn't offer home mail service because its so small that we all are given free PO boxes. I have toys that only stay there. Say 2 cars and 2 bikes. They were register at my Chicago address and now at my WI PO Box.

This is a legit scenario because I know of places in IL and Wi that don't have local mail services. Not trying to be a smart ass but u have a decent understanding of how things go and I wanted to see what your thoughts on this was.
 
#83 · (Edited)
First...The cross referencing I'm speaking about is not done by the SoS, it's done by the city and the county. It's their tax & fee revenue that's being lost.
If your "toys" are registered in Wisconsin I don't see how there would be a way for the county or city to violate you by cross reference. However, if you were to get stopped in Chicago and the officer checks the registration against your license he could write you for no city sticker. It's simple...You're a resident of the city, you own a vehicle that does not have a sticker, you are in violation of the city's ordinance.
I'm not a lawyer and I don't know how the law works regarding legally residing in Illinois and registering vehicles in Wisconsin but, I would guess you might be pushing the envelope on being within the law. It's something I would check into because I prefer to be within the law. What you do is up to you. Aren't Wisconsin plates much more expensive than Illinois?

BTW...We've gotten off topic here a bit but the point is that if you try to evade the Cook county private vehicle sale tax they WILL use every means at their disposal to catch you AND they will slap you with fines and penalties in addition to the tax just as the city is starting to do with city sticker scofflaws.
The county tax is poorly conceived, regressive and fails to take into account that older motorcycles are oft times sold for only a couple of hundred dollars.When the state passed their private sale tax they eventually modified it for motorcycles to a flat fee of $25. The county tax should be either repealed because it hurts the people that can least afford it or at least modified to reflect the fact that some vehicles are sold at very low prices. Changes get done by the people exerting pressure on the elected officials who created this tax. You don't like this tax? Let the Cook county board know!
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#84 ·
Some recent info that I have heard is that there is a proposal that President Preckwinkel is said to support that would modify the schedule of this tax and lower the fee for registering a motorcycle in Cook County in a private sale to a flat fee of $90.
I think the unpopularity of this tax and Cook County citizens lodging complaints had alot to do with this proposal. I'd also bet that if the protests got louder and more people protested they might even modify this further...maybe even eliminate it!

Let them hear from you!
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#85 ·
OldTimeBiker said:
Some recent info that I have heard is that there is a proposal that President Preckwinkel is said to support that would modify the schedule of this tax and lower the fee for registering a motorcycle in Cook County in a private sale to a flat fee of $90.
Click to expand...
I read this as well.
 
#89 · (Edited)
Two things:
1. The $25 tax charged at the SoS is a state tax. The other "fee" billed by mail is a tax charged by Cook County.

2. The change in the fees charged is only proposed. It needs to pass the Cook county Board AND...If they do change it DO NOT expect a refund/rebate if you paid a fee before the change was made...The rates you paid were in effect at that time and once the county gets your money you need to climb inside a crocodiles mouth and pull teeth to get any of it back!
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#90 · (Edited)
I tried to post links but I have less than 15 posts so I'm not allowed.... Effective Aug.1, 2013, the Cook County Use Tax on Non-Retailer Transfers of Motor Vehicles for motorcycles was reduced, changed to a flat rate of $90. Legislation was introduced Apr.17, 2013, and passed on May 8, 2013, effective Aug.1, 2013. As expected, no mention of any refunds for transactions prior to Aug.1, 2013.

Also worth mentioning, in another amendment that was proposed on July 31, 2013, and yet to be passed.... individuals with income less than $20,000 would be exempt from this tax.

And to add, for vehicles other than motorcycles, the Cook County tax rate has decreased effective Aug.1, 2013: 3yrs or newer, $225. 4-8 years, $175. 9 years or older, $90.
 
#91 ·
OldTimeBiker said:
I'm not a lawyer and I don't know how the law works regarding legally residing in Illinois and registering vehicles in Wisconsin but, I would guess you might be pushing the envelope on being within the law. It's something I would check into because I prefer to be within the law. What you do is up to you. Aren't Wisconsin plates much more expensive than Illinois?
Click to expand...
Far as I know you cant register a street vehicle in WI if you're a resident of another state and not intending to live in WI. Thats one you need to ask the WIDOT about to be sure. WI plates are around $100 for trucks and $75-80ish for cars per yr for registration.
 
#94 ·
YZFRob said:
Far as I know you cant register a street vehicle in WI if you're a resident of another state and not intending to live in WI. Thats one you need to ask the WIDOT about to be sure. WI plates are around $100 for trucks and $75-80ish for cars per yr for registration.
Click to expand...
the states are broke, they will take your money , you can register anything anywhere if you provide an address , even a box at the quickiepost/ups store, you can get a DL using said addresses too
 
81 - 100 of 107 Posts
About this Discussion
106 Replies
32 Participants
Last post:
sportriderrr
Chicagoland Sportbike Forums
posts
2M
members
11K
Since
2002
A forum community dedicated to Chicagoland Sportbike owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about performance, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
Open Forum General Sportbikes New Member Introductions Home Improvement forum General Cruiser Discussion