ethics question

Status
Not open for further replies.
ceb58

ceb58

Senior Member
Location
Raeford, NC
As some here know along with contracting part time I also work for the prison system. About 9 mo ago I was assigned a minimum custody inmate to assist me which is common place. This guy was/is a very good electrician. He can run the gambit of electrical work from changing ballast to running pipe, setting switch gear to trouble shooting motors. This is not talk I have seen him in action. several weeks ago he slipped and told me he renewed his electrical lisence. I thought it was BS. Last week he transferred to a location nearer his home county. He left some electrical trade magazines in my work truck that he had sent to him in prison. The label had his name on it as owner of *** electrical. So I looked him up on the state contractor board web site and sure enough he renewed his lisence and is listed as active. Now by state law he must report any criminal convictions for the boards review and I am sure the board would not let him still hold his license while he is in prison. He is due to get out in Dec. and start back in the trade. Would you file a complaint with the board or let it slide? I know what I am going to do.
 
NJ has similar laws...depending on what the crime was, it will determine your eligibility to retain your license.

The guy is a "minimum custody inmate"...it doesn't "sound" like he is a threat to himself or others - but we don't actually know and probably never will.
 
2 counts B&E, possession of burglary tools, eluding law enforcement and 15 counts of bad checks. I know that he will work in the trade again but that liability will be on whom ever hires him. But, we that hold a licence are we not held to a higher standard of conduct? There are those here that are unwavering on even bending a rule in the code book so I see no difference. With the licence he is able to do contracting on his own, who here would want (if you knew) this guy working in your mothers, daughters or your own home? I know every one needs a second chance. And the trade is doted with good workers who have had their share of problems. But would I not be as irresponsible and deceptive as he was by not being forth right with the board knowing what I know?
 
That may be how "Graybar Electrical Supply" got started. Doing time in the Gray Bar Hotel. :grin: :grin: I have always wondered about the name.
 
In Texas your license is revoked on a felony conviction.

They pick it up when you try to renew and answer yes to the criminal conviction question you mentioned. If you lie about that it's the same as perjury and they will revoke when caught.

You can get it back after one year if it wasn't a crime against property or persons. Case by case basis.
 
ceb58 said:
2 counts B&E, possession of burglary tools, eluding law enforcement and 15 counts of bad checks.
Click to expand...

You can report this guy with a clear conscience. I'm pretty sure that B&E us one of the things they take your license for. Even writing bad checks can get you license taken away. Even not paying child support can get your license taken away.

If he had only killed a few general contractors or something minor that would be different.
 
ceb58 said:
2 counts B&E, possession of burglary tools, eluding law enforcement and 15 counts of bad checks.
Click to expand...

It is highly doubtful he could get a license here with a sheet like that.

The State isn't going to give him a card that basically tells consumers (taxpayers, voters) that the State trusts him in their home.
 
ceb58 said:
This guy was/is a very good electrician. He can run the gambit of electrical work from changing ballast to running pipe, setting switch gear to trouble shooting motors. This is not talk I have seen him in action.
Click to expand...

...but you said this about him?

Are your concerns over his talents or his ethics?

...or is this about your ethics?

No disrespect intended.

Should you report him? Is that the question?
 
Disclaimer: This is not in any way meant to declare an opinion one way or the other on this or any other subject. Nor is it meant to be inflammatory. It's only meant to show that rules are often selectively chosen or enforced. It's human nature. That is all.


It's kinda funny, but when we discuss something that is allowed to squeak by in an installation or inspection, a certain number of posters chime in with "Passed or not, It's still non-compliant!" or "Inspectors have to inspect by the code, and can't use personal opinions to choose which rules to follow!" and so on.

Now, compare that with the tone of the majority of the responses in this thread. As I said, it just strikes me as funny. Please keep this thread going in its intended direction, and not let it get side-tracked. Thanx.
 
LarryFine said:
...and can't use personal opinions to choose which rules to follow!" and so on.
Click to expand...

But rules or laws without judgement are meaningless. :)

Courts, boards, commitees.....

Many want black and white, this or that....without the, yea, but what if..?

Life is easier that way. :wink:

Less challenging, but easier.
 
I would leave him alone, he's just getting ready. He will have paid his debt by Dec. If he has not learned his lesson and changed his ways, he'll be back in there before long. Why dont you just ask him about it?
 
Through various indiscretions of youth I have had the opportunity to meet a few people who were on the wrong side of the law. In all of those meetings I have met a grand total of one theif whom I believed had learned his lesson after doing some time. I am definately in the camp of being able to pick up the pieces after some bad decisions and paying your debt to society but a convicted thief with access to peoples homes is like having a recovering heroin addict working in a hypodermic factory. It sounds like the protocall is to give the info to a board who will render a final decision based on the particulars/ priors of the individual. I would say let that entity earn their salary.
 
If there is a question about criminal convictions on the renewal application and he lied about it ,I would tell the dude that he needs to come clean with the licensing board.

If he has truly learned his lesson he would not try to get a license illegally. If he intends to make a fresh start he needs to inform the board of his conviction and let the chips fall where they may.
 
wirebender said:
If there is a question about criminal convictions on the renewal application and he lied about it ,I would tell the dude that he needs to come clean with the licensing board.

If he has truly learned his lesson he would not try to get a license illegally. If he intends to make a fresh start he needs to inform the board of his conviction and let the chips fall where they may.
Click to expand...


Best answer so far. I agree 100%. Try to persuade the guy to come clean with the Board. If he does or does not, that's his call, and he will suffer the consequences of that decision.

Ceb58, if you really want to help, and are comfortable doing so, a good course of action would be for you to write a letter of endorsement for the Board to consider in the review.
 
wirebender said:
If there is a question about criminal convictions on the renewal application and he lied about it ,I would tell the dude that he needs to come clean with the licensing board.

If he has truly learned his lesson he would not try to get a license illegally. If he intends to make a fresh start he needs to inform the board of his conviction and let the chips fall where they may.
Click to expand...

I like that thought, "let the chips fall where they may".....however If he was in Okra-homa the licensing board would probably never catch it....hA

Im just a firm believer in giving him a chance....but maybe working for a EC first might be safer for the consumer instead of diving off into a business man...I dont know....It's America
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top