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I was getting good at this, so I purchased a used vehicle in the U.S. and imported it.

It didn’t have any airbags, so the warning lights were on. But I wasn’t picky.

I knew, based on my other tricks (please link to another story), I could solve that before I had it inspected and registered.

You just couldn’t be too worried about the truth.

I Googled airbags. I saw I had three options. Get certified replacements installed at a repair shop. Buy some and install them myself. Or, override the warning light.

I called and found that the first option was out of the question. Way too expensive.

But, option two had some promise. There were cheap ones online.

Of course, there were some warnings about dangerous fake airbags.

Option three, overriding the warning lights, went too far – even for me.

You can find how-to videos about anything on the web. So, I ordered cheap ones and had them sent to my U.S. mailbox. I used a buddy’s garage and put them in. Bingo! The warning lights went off and I was on my way.

Soon, I had an ad up on several classified websites:

Great car for sale. Moving out of the country and need to sell fast! Good condition. Recently inspected. Call cell. I’m flexible on price!!

I couldn’t believe how many calls I had.

I found my buyer not long after. A nice man about my age; divorced with three kids. That’s all I know about him – I don’t like getting too personal.

I was actually honest about the vehicle this time. I told him that the car had been in an accident and was from the U.S. I asked if he wanted a vehicle history report,* but he declined. He appreciated my honesty, as he’d gone through a few bad deals. With the transaction done, we parted ways.

Then I got a call from my buddy.

Being a curious person, he’d read the boxes the airbags came in that I’d left at his shop.

“You installed counterfeit airbags,” he said.

“So? They look identical to the original airbags,” I said.

“I’ve seen videos of bogus airbags catching fire and with metal bits exploding when they deploy. They’re not safe,” he scolded.

I’ll take my chances, I thought. It would only be a problem in an accident.

The next day, my buddy left a message. He ended our friendship.

Whoa, chill out. A guy’s got a right to make a few bucks.

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*Vehicle History Reports –  CarProof https://carproof.com/products/why-carproof/why-buy-a-report and ICBC http://www.icbc.com/registration-licensing/buy-vehicle/buy-used/vehicle-history vehicle history reports provide detailed information about the registration and accident history of a vehicle. CarProof Verified BC reports also include a lien search.  These reports can’t tell you everything a physical inspection will, but they require the seller to Prove it! and not just say it.

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Check it out online: WatchOutForWalt.com

Walt the Curber Footer

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The Vehicle Sales Authority of BCCarProof Vehicle History Reports and ICBC are combining forces to help keep car buyers safe. Follow our series on Walt the Curber to learn how much you risk when you buy a used vehicle without proof of its history or condition. The price of buying a car from a curber can turn out to be much higher if you have nowhere to turn. Learn what you can do to protect yourself.

WaltTheCurber_3x8_V8p1

I surprised my family with a trip to Hawaii. They didn’t have a clue how I paid for it. But they thought I was the best dad in the world.

While we were away, I bought a car on eBay. It had over 350,000 km on it. No one will want to buy this piece of junk, I thought.

Unless. I could just lower the mileage on it a little bit. And it won’t hurt anybody, right?

One problem – I had no idea how to change an odometer*. But as it turns out, it’s much easier than I’d expected.

With an odometer tool, I changed the reading to 164,500 km. Still a lot, but less than half the real clicks.

My ad: “Minivan – old but in great condition! Only 164,500kms – it sat in my garage for the last 5 years. Must sell. If you’re looking for an older, but reliable and safe vehicle, call my cell and we’ll negotiate.”

Looking back, I realized I’d knocked almost 200,000 km off the vehicle.

But I shined it up and put some newer used tires on it so they wouldn’t give away its true condition.

Will this get me in trouble? I wondered. I wasn’t doing anything wrong, really – this just gives me a chance to make some more money on the vehicle.

I got a phone call from a young single mom who could only afford an older vehicle. We decided to meet at her son’s school.

As I was showing her the car, I noticed the carpet, the door handles and the pedals kind of gave away its true condition. Hopefully she’s too naïve to notice, I thought.

Forty minutes later, our exchange was complete. I probably made an extra $2,000 because of the odometer!! If I’d only done this to all the other cars I sold!

Suddenly, my mind began processing the implications.

That minivan was pretty much at the end of its life. That young mom is expecting the vehicle to last her for a few more years.

At best, I see it lasting one more.

Parts will start failing, calling for expensive repairs. I’m certain she doesn’t have the money for that.

All I’m hoping is that it doesn’t break down on the highway.

Maybe there was a reason I never did it before. Maybe, just maybe, I had a conscience up until now.

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Check it out online: WatchOutForWalt.com

Walt the Curber Footer

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The Vehicle Sales Authority of BCCarProof Vehicle History Reports and ICBC are combining forces to help keep car buyers safe. Follow our series on Walt the Curber to learn how much you risk when you buy a used vehicle without proof of its history or condition. The price of buying a car from a curber can turn out to be much higher if you have nowhere to turn. Learn what you can do to protect yourself.

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I guess you could say I was addicted. Only my drug of choice wasn’t coke or meth. No – it was the thrill of getting away with it all. And the easy cash, of course.

Throwing the camper into that last deal was a great marketing idea.

And, like last time, I decided to branch out again. There’s so much more than just cars! This time I decided to go with a motorcycle.

I purchased it off the internet – I guess you could call it a curber-to-curber transaction.

Oh, of course I knew every trick in the book by now. The seller gave me my old story and said that he was the real owner.

Did I care? Not a chance. It was a nice Harley. And it was a steal. I knew I could flip it for more.

Why? Because I was a better marketer.

But I needed to do it fast. And, I had to make sure I had a buyer that was naive enough not to do a lien check through CarProof or the province!

As usual, I put up a generic, one-line Craigslist ad. With a price like mine, I had a buyer within an hour.

I made sure the Harley looked its best. I polished it until it sparkled and filled it with gas. Hey, what’s a few bucks?

Then I ran into a small problem.

I found out that my seller was the real owner. Wow. But he sold me a vehicle that was about to be repossessed.

Fortunately, he was in such a hurry that he didn’t make me do the transfer – so it was still in his name.

No big deal. *Bridging was my friend.

I just used his name and hoped my buyer would never ask me for ID.

And I was right. The buyer smelled a bargain and took the bait like fish. He thought I was the fool!

No lien check, no ID check. Just cash.

I was home free, again.

And the best part? When the bailiff came for the motorcycle, he didn’t even know my name.

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*Bridging – A trick that curbers use to keep their identity secret. Curbers will pay more for a vehicle from an unscrupulous wholesaler or broker if they are not required to immediately put the vehicle in their name. This keeps their name out of the vehicle registry and makes them impossible to locate when deals go bad. Breaking the law is never a concern for them.

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Check it out online: WatchOutForWalt.com

Walt the Curber Footer

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The Vehicle Sales Authority of BCCarProof Vehicle History Reports and ICBC are combining forces to help keep car buyers safe. Follow our series on Walt the Curber to learn how much you risk when you buy a used vehicle without proof of its history or condition. The price of buying a car from a curber can turn out to be much higher if you have nowhere to turn. Learn what you can do to protect yourself.

Walt the Curber - Part 6

Thank goodness, the stolen vehicle was behind me.

Did I feel bad? Yes. Does it make me a bad person for selling a stolen vehicle? Probably.

But to outsiders, my life hasn’t changed. I’m still the same old Walt. Oh, if they only knew.

I was on a roll. To my disbelief, I’d sold seven cars already. I guess you could say it was a part of me now – I “flip” cars on the side.

And, I was branching out – with a truck and camper. The truck had been rebuilt. It was roadworthy again. I even had the inspection records to prove it. And the camper? That was marketing genius.

When I put it up for sale, I fibbed. But, only a little bit.

“Truck for sale. Fixed after fender bender, looks new. Includes camper. It’s been in an accident, so I’m selling both for a low price. Great for family adventures. Call if interested.”

Shortly after, I got a call. The man had a distinct, charming accent. He asked me what a “fender bender” was. I explained that it was a small accident. He seemed pleased and asked to meet me the next day.

I assumed he was relatively new to the country, so I thought this would be an easy sale.

Boy was I wrong!

He’d gone to “new immigrant” welcome classes, where they shared information about life in Canada.

I think this was where he developed an interest in camping Canadian style.

He knew all the right questions to ask. But, I gave him all the wrong answers.

And, I didn’t tell him the camper was way too heavy for the truck to be safe.

He also asked for a vehicle history report. I pulled the CarProof report out. I mean, I had nothing to hide. He asked me what “rebuilt” meant. I told him that, because of the small accident, the transmission needed to be rebuilt. Oh, but I’d altered the sections detailing the amount of damage.

Judging from his English skills, I’m sure he didn’t understand the difference. At least he was trying. He got an “A” for effort.

I hope he figures out that the truck and camper would be unsafe on the road when he gets it fully loaded with passengers, fuel and gear. Good thing I have my “no returns” policy!

Yes, I know what you’re all thinking. This is the lowest of the low.

But you have to understand. I was slightly manic about this whole thing. At this point, I would do anything to make a sale and get myself another wallet full of cash.

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*Rebuilt – This status is assigned to “salvage” vehicles after they have been repaired and have passed inspection. Vehicle status alone does not fully describe a vehicle’s mechanical condition or damage history. This applies to RVs, motorcycles, cars and trucks.

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Check it out online: WatchOutForWalt.com

Walt the Curber Footer

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The Vehicle Sales Authority of BCCarProof Vehicle History Reports and ICBC are combining forces to help keep car buyers safe. Follow our series on Walt the Curber to learn how much you risk when you buy a used vehicle without proof of its history or condition. The price of buying a car from a curber can turn out to be much higher if you have nowhere to turn. Learn what you can do to protect yourself.

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Noodling on the web one morning I found out that I was selling vehicles illegally. If I was in the business of selling, I need to be licensed as a dealer.

Oh, well. Everything’s been working out just fine for me. I skated through those recent bad deals.

My previous sales were a distant memory – I was eager to start selling more. So, I decided to up my game a bit. I got a low-end truck and a car from an auction and another car from a new parking lot friend.

I put ads for all three vehicles on Craigslist. Of course, my ads said they were all real gems. You’d think people might see through my ads.

“Need to sell fast, so price is flexible. Call with best offer.”

And my cell number was the same for all three. Would anybody notice?

The first two cheaper vehicles sold quickly.

The last one took a bit longer to sell. Of course, it was the one I was most eager to sell. Why, you ask?

Well, not that I passed the information along, but the auction provided vehicle history reports for the first two. I had no information on the last.

So, I bought ICBC and CarProof vehicle history reports. I wanted to educate myself. To my surprise, there was a statement in both reports that the vehicle was possibly *stolen.

I knew I had to sell it fast.

I mean, I’d paid for it and I knew my new “friend” wouldn’t take it back.

Four days later, I got a call from a young woman. She asked if the car would fit a family of four. “Definitely!” I practically screamed.

I was a wreck during this sale. I just needed to get rid of this car – fast. I told the nice lady the details of the car. Apart from being stolen, it was pretty nice!

I told her I was in a hurry to visit my mum in the hospital. She was in a hurry too – her three-year-old was anxious, pulling at her pant legs. She seemed to not want to be there as much as me.

Finally, she agreed to buy the car. Phew! I was saved.

Whatever happens next, I don’t care. It’s her problem, not mine.

I quickly changed my phone number (again).

Weeks later, I saw her on the news – with kid still at pant legs – talking to a reporter. Apparently, the car was towed away by the police.

And yes, she was trying to find me.

Had I covered my tracks?

I agonized.

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*Stolen – How can a stolen vehicle be sold?  Curbers often break the law by bridging a title.  Instead of registering a vehicle in their name within 10 days after a purchase, as required, they leave it in the name of the previous owner.  This keeps their name out of the chain of title and from being caught with a stolen vehicle or one that would not be able to be registered or insured for another reason.

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Check it out online: WatchOutForWalt.com

Walt the Curber Footer

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The Vehicle Sales Authority of BCCarProof Vehicle History Reports and ICBC are combining forces to help keep car buyers safe. Follow our series on Walt the Curber to learn how much you risk when you buy a used vehicle without proof of its history or condition. The price of buying a car from a curber can turn out to be much higher if you have nowhere to turn. Learn what you can do to protect yourself.

Walt the Curber Mugshot

It’s only been a month, but I can see myself selling cars for a long, long time. I feel like a new man.

One evening, I was in line at the superstore. An elderly gentleman saw my shopping cart. I had a new digital tire gauge that I was going to give to my next buyer.

Turns out he was looking for a used car as he’d recently given his car to his grandson. He just needed something basic.

“This is your lucky day,” I told him.

The old fellow was around my father-in-law’s age – close to 80. He walked with a cane and had two ear pieces. I was practically shouting to him. What an easy sale.

I decided to give him a ride and show him the car. He went on to tell me about his young granddaughter, too.

At any rate, we got to the car – it was a base model with an automatic transmission.

“It’s perfect for you, sir!” I exclaimed.

He got in and sat at the wheel. His face lit up right away. I could tell that he’d been a car enthusiast in his younger days.

“Where’d you get this car, son?” he asked me.

“It’s my dad’s old car – he passed away and I just can’t keep it anymore,” I lied.

In reality, I imported the car from Washington.  It came with documents that mentioned New York State. The title was clean, so I assumed it was in good condition.

I priced the vehicle quite high – well over its value. But he didn’t know, and he didn’t ask any more questions. I told him I had another buyer interested (another lie) and that he had to make a decision right away.

With no hesitation, he got a bank draft and I gave him the keys. Like I promised, I threw in the new tire gauge. Marty gave me a wink and slowly drove off.

Another foolish customer, I thought. No history report to keep me on my toes. And worse, he needs to get it inspected, registered and insured within 30 days – I didn’t bother. I just got my buddy in Bellingham to help me get it across.

That evening, I took out the papers I’d received with the car. I decided to go over them more thoroughly. I guess I was a bit bored.

Turns out, the vehicle had been registered in four U.S. states.  Somewhere along the line, the rebuild status was dropped. Probably intentionally.  The inspection and ICBC will catch that. And who knows if the odometer is right? At least it’s no longer mine.

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*Rebuild – A vehicle written off as a total loss by an insurance company, then rebuilt and certified for use. This term does not describe a vehicle that has a new or repaired motor, transmission or other major part. Rebuilds offer savings when repaired well, but a buyer has a right to know it was rebuilt. But this buyer didn’t and Walt walked away with the cash.

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Check it out online: WatchOutForWalt.com

Walt the Curber Footer

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The Vehicle Sales Authority of BCCarProof Vehicle History Reports and ICBC are combining forces to help keep car buyers safe. Follow our series on Walt the Curber to learn how much you risk when you buy a used vehicle without proof of its history or condition. The price of buying a car from a curber can turn out to be much higher if you have nowhere to turn. Learn what you can do to protect yourself.

Walt the Curber Mugshot

My next vehicle came from a used car wholesaler.

There was nothing wrong with it, but he couldn’t find a dealer who wanted it. I gladly took it off his hands.

How hip was I?  I had a new source of newer vehicles that would come right to me.

Two-year-old car for sale. No previous accident history reported, only 35,000km on it. Call with offer.

Shortly after, I got a call from a young man. His car had just broken down, and he needed a new one fast. He agreed to meet me at the local construction site where he worked.

He was just finishing up his lunch when I arrived. He was wearing his construction uniform and I immediately noticed his tired eyes.

I felt bad for the poor fellow, and I was glad that I was selling him a reliable vehicle. He didn’t need another headache on top of everything. I even knocked $500 off the price I wanted.

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*def’n Wholesaler – Vehicle sellers may call themselves auto brokers or wholesalers to sound legitimate and cheaper. But if they’re selling to private buyers, they must be licensed as a dealer. Like any curber – an individual posing as a private seller but selling vehicles as a business – wholesalers and brokers offer none of the protection the law provides for purchases from a Vehicle Sales Authority licensed dealer. Walt learned that lesson, but his buyer paid the price.

Check it out online: WatchOutForWalt.com

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It was a smooth transaction. The guy looked happy and thanked me immensely for all the help. I beamed back at him.

Around 5:00 a.m. the next morning, I got a call. It was the construction worker, yelling so loudly that I could barely understand him.

“THEY TOOK IT AWAY,” he said over and over again.  “REPOSSESSED!”

I hung up on him and tried to make sense of the situation.

Why would the car be taken away in the middle of the night? Who’s “they”?

Liens. Of course. The car had a lien on it. That’s why it wouldn’t sell on a lot. The bank must have seized it due to an unpaid balance.

As before, I panicked. I didn’t want to get involved in this right now. Sure, I sold him the car, but how was I supposed to know it had a lien on it? I realized the wholesaler had scammed me! If that fellow had asked for a CarProof history report or even a provincial lien search, I’d be the one screaming.

Over the next several hours, I kept letting my phone go to voicemail – I couldn’t bear speaking to the young man. I knew I had to switch phones again.

I felt a bit ashamed. But I needed to be selfish about this. At this point, the best thing for me was cash.

And lots of it.

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Check it out online: WatchOutForWalt.com

Walt the Curber Footer

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The Vehicle Sales Authority of BCCarProof Vehicle History Reports and ICBC are combining forces to help keep car buyers safe. Follow our series on Walt the Curber to learn how much you risk when you buy a used vehicle without proof of its history or condition. The price of buying a car from a curber can turn out to be much higher if you have nowhere to turn. Learn what you can do to protect yourself.

“Now, I’m not a good liar. It’s her fault for not asking for a CarProof or ICBC vehicle history report…”

Walt the Curber - mugshot copy

I was itching to sell another car. I‘d spent my first cash quickly. The new TV looked great in my living room.

So I scrounged the dealer lots in my neighbourhood. I found the perfect car at a small dealership not far from my house.

Gray with four doors. Everything was still intact, but it was priced low. The dealer gave me the car’s history right away. It had been in three accidents over its lifetime. Nothing too major, but damage was done and repaired.

I couldn’t spot the repairs. So, I happily bought it and registered it.

I didn’t want my wife and kids to know what I was up to, so I parked it around the block. I knew it would be gone in a few days.

This time, I used Kijiji and Craigslist.

“Car for sale. Served me well, but wife wants a new car. Accident and damage free. Looking to sell fast, low price. Cash only. Call cell for info.”

I got a text message from a woman across town. I told her I’d meet her at a nearby gas station and would throw in a free tank of gas. She was thrilled.

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*What is a Curber? – An individual posing as a private seller, but selling vehicles for profit as a business.  A curber often misrepresents the history and condition of a vehicle.  Curbers offer none of the protections the law provides for purchases from a Vehicle Sales Authority licensed dealer.

(Check it out online: WatchOutForWalt.com)

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When I met her, she told me that she needed a cheap, dependable vehicle to get to her new job. She’d been taking the bus for weeks and was tired of her commute.

To my annoyance, she wanted to check the vehicle thoroughly. So I distracted her. I told her I was sad to let “my baby” go, but I wanted to keep my wife happy. She nodded sympathetically.

As she handed me the money, she asked if the vehicle was in any accidents.

Now, I’m not a good liar. So I simply said, No. It’s her fault for not asking for a CarProof or ICBC vehicle history report.

That seemed to do it. She was pleased and drove away with a smile on her face. As for me, I went home with a fat wallet.

A few days later, I got a text:

“Got CarProof report. Three accidents?!?!? Need money back now!!!”

I panicked. But not for long.

I was getting good at this. I just got a new cell number. She didn’t know my name – that old fake ID worked great. And she had no idea where I lived. Finding me would wear her out.

I was in the clear. But will I be so lucky next time?

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Check it out online: WatchOutForWalt.com

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The Vehicle Sales Authority of BC, CarProof Vehicle History Reports and ICBC are combining forces to help keep car buyers safe. Follow our series on Walt the Curber to learn how much you risk when you buy a used vehicle without proof of its history or condition. The price of buying a car from a curber can turn out to be much higher if you have nowhere to turn. Learn what you can do to protect yourself.

Watch Out For Walt - Confessions of a Curber

I remember my first time. It was so easy. So thrilling. And I walked away with a couple thousand bucks in my pocket.

It happened after the summer flooding in Alberta and southeastern B.C. Basements filled, streets were running with water, and cars were left to float and sink.

One day, I walked past a private home and saw, what I thought, was a relatively normal car for sale cheap.

Apart from a couple of scratches and damp seats, it seemed road worthy. I asked about the car. It was found full of flood water. It wasn’t insured at the time of the flood. And the owner wanted nothing to do with it.

I bought the car for a few hundred bucks. Originally, I had no intent to do what I did. I planned to sell the car for parts. But it must have dried out as it sat. The engine still ran.

Suddenly, I had an idea. Since the car looked fine, no one had to know its history. I was a genius.

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*What is a Curber? – An individual posing as a private seller, but selling vehicles for profit as a business.  A curber often misrepresents the history and condition of a vehicle.  Curbers offer none of the protections the law provides for purchases from a Vehicle Sales Authority licensed dealer.

(Check it out online: WatchOutForWalt.com)

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After a night in the garage with a heater and a little scrubbing, I posted an ad on Craigslist:

“Car for sale. Bought new car – no room in garage. Need to sell ASAP!!! Scratches, but in great condition. Call cell and we’ll talk price.”

Minutes later I got a call from a sixteen-year old kid – a little younger than my son. I told him to meet me at the local mall at 6:00 p.m.

I arrived at 6:20, telling him I was in a hurry to pick up my son from soccer practice. Turns out he played, too. After some soccer gossip, we got down to business.

I knew a kid his age just wanted a ride to show off to his friends, so we spent very little time on the details. I just told him the car was in perfect condition and was never in any accidents.

“No problems as far as I know,” I said.

The kid was sold. He trusted me. I never gave him my full name, and he never gave me his. He gave me the cash, I gave him the car. I had never registered it in my name. Smart. All was good.

Later, I learned about flood vehicles. Flooding can damage the computer system, which control things like the brakes, and rots the vehicle from inside out. And flood vehicles don’t qualify for on-road licensing or use in B.C. or anywhere in Canada. Who knew?

My mind went to the kid I sold the vehicle to. I felt a twinge of guilt. I hoped it wouldn’t fail while he was driving. Then my eyes darted to my stash of cash…

Check it out online: WatchOutForWalt.com

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