(625 ILCS 5/3-828) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 3-828)

Sec. 3-828. Lien for violations.

Any vehicle used in violation of the provision of this Act shall be subject to a lien for the full amount of all unpaid registration fees, flat weight taxes, and penalties. Such lien shall not release the offender from the full payment of all such fees, taxes, penalties and damages. The lien shall attach at the time of operation of any such vehicle within this State and shall remain effective until all unpaid registration fees, flat weight taxes, penalties and audit fees are paid, or until the vehicle is sold for the payment thereof. Such liens shall be superior to any other lien except that:

(a) no lien for any amounts due or assessed pursuant to this Section shall be enforceable against any vehicle which prior to such assessment had been transferred in good faith to a bona fide transferee for value;

(b) the lien of any amounts due or assessed shall be subject to a prior lien of any indebtedness existing against such vehicle which is noted on the certificate of title of such vehicle issued under this Act, or as to a vehicle from another jurisdiction, if written notice thereof is filed with the Secretary of State before such lien becomes operative and if

(1) Such prior indebtedness was incurred in good faith to secure all or a portion of the purchase price of such vehicle, and

(2) Such prior indebtedness is secured by a chattel mortgage or conditional sales agreement duly filed or perfected in this State pursuant to law and such chattel mortgage or conditional sales was not given directly or indirectly, to any officer, director or shareholder of a corporation, or to a partner of a partnership, or to a trustee or beneficiary of a trust, owning or having the lawful use or control of such vehicle, whether as a purchase money mortgage or otherwise.

The lien imposed under this Section shall be enforceable as to any equity after the encumbrance of any such chattel mortgage or conditional sales contract, and in the event any such vehicle subject to a lien hereunder is repossessed by a chattel mortgagee or a conditional vendor, such vehicle shall not be sold at any public or private sale unless at least 5 days written notice by registered mail is served upon the Secretary of State.

The Secretary of State, upon perfecting a prior lien hereunder for any flat weight taxes required to be paid under Section 3-815 may in his discretion waive the requirement for the surety bond specified in Section 3-816, providing that the said prior lien is so noted on the certificate of title for such vehicle or vehicles.

Any surety making payment of a second installment of taxes under Section 3-816 of this Act, may impress a lien similar to that of the Secretary of State, and such lien may be noted on title records and documents. The surety shall, however, pay any statutory fees therefor.

(Source: P.A. 77-1464.)