Re: non licensed contractors
I'm sorry to hear that some of those other states are very lax in enforcing their laws or even having licensure requirements.
Here in NJ, we take it seriously.
This topic was touched upon in the
Request for Hacks, posted on July 22, 2005.
I'll re-iterate some of my comments for kennym's benefit.
Originally posted by celtic:
]NJ has a different approach...the Board has control over all electrical installations/installers - licensed EC or wanna-be.
NJ has discovered that fining the wanna-be is a lucrative business.
Read the minutes from a few of their meetings:
BoEoEC Minutes page
Here is a "quickee":
Check in the amount of $1,000.00 received from xxxx, License #xxxx, as the second installment of a civil penalty, and costs, in the amount of $31,110.78 for violation of N.J.S.A. 45:5A-9 and N.J.S.A. 56:8-1 et seq. Payments started November 17, 2004 and the balance due is $25,110.78.
$31,110 !!!
(45:5A-9. Necessity of business permit and license; qualifications; examinations; fees )
(56:8-1 Definitions. 1. (a) The term "advertisement" shall include the attempt directly or indirectly)
Looks like he was licensed but possessed no business permit...and he is just one of many with fines ranging from $500 to the whopper $31k.
Originally posted by celtic:
In NJ, they can be reported and usually end up paying a fine (see my link to the minutes page, above).
Why an EC doesn't take out a required permit completely eludes me...it doesn't save the EC any money - ok, maybe a few bucks for the time spent filing and inspection time...but once branded as a no-permit-EC what has been gained? The eye of the AHJ et al.
The licensure requirement for a LV EC is actually a "non-license" - an exemption:
Application for Telecommunications Wiring Exemption . The fact is, it is a REQUIREMENT for any work under 10V.
If you want, you can use this
Complaint Form.
As an EC in NJ, you have a "duty" to "police" the work being done. You have spent a great deal of time, money, and effort to obtain your EC's license. Allowing a non-licensed/exempt person to conduct business is accepting the fact that you have wasted a great deal of time, money, and effort obtained your EC credential - and are also willing to throw more time, money, and effort out the window in maintaining your EC credentials. License renewal fees, insurance, bonding, CCE, etc does cost time, money, and effort.
Statutes
You can decide to take an active stance and use the
Complaint Form, or you can take a more passive stance and slip a copy of the
State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors Consumer Tip under the "contractors" windshield and one under the customer's door.
An anonymus call to the AHJ would NOT be out of line. The AHJs don't want these "contractors" running around either. I have recieved numerous calls from HO's stating that needed a licensed EC
now, as they were facing fines from the AHJ for trying to slip one past them. I approach the AHJ
before signing a contract with these types of people. The AHJ appreciates the fact that I am "on the job", and it establishes that I do not do work w/o the required permits. The AHJ also tells me exactly what must be done. (Which saves me some aggrivation)
Some HO's claim it's all BS just to get the permit fees (and may even imply that the AHJ and I are in bed), but the law is the law and it when it comes to feeding my family (or my vehicles with outrageously priced fuel) or turning a blind eye (and having an empty wallet) the choice is obvious.
This is MY opinion and I'll throw any HO or "contractor" under a bus to prove my point and feed what needs feeding.
I used to do it too. But then I realized how pointless it is considering that nothing was/is being done about it. 