Okay, side jobs:
I don't do side jobs, not so much because I am totally against it, more that I work enough damn time right now, and don't want to work any more. My free time is worth at least 100 bucks an hour, and i haven't found too many folks who will pay that for an electrician. Every now and then I get roped into doing work for a (so-called) friend but I don't charge them, and I am cussing under my breath the entire time I am doing the work. As I said, I work enough %#$^ hours as it is.
But let's say I decided I was going to do side jobs. Here would be my rational:
#1. Texas legislated a state licensing program about 4 years ago. There was a total of about a two-year "grandfathering" period where any hack, waana-bee, or even non-electrician could get a license without testing, all they had to do was write a fake letter with a fake signature saying they were experienced electricians. So, at the present time, having a JW license in Texas really doesn't mean that a person is qualified. There are plenty of legal HACKS out there doing LEGAL work right now. So the law is a bunch of garbage at the moment. And I am a better electrician than 90% of the other licensed guys and I am not a hack. I know the code and do good work.
#2. The whole danged state has like 2 electrical inspectors. The state has no permitting requirements anyway. There is very little enforcement. The state leaves it to each city to enforce whatever rules may be in place. So if I wanted to do side jobs, I would just do them in the county where there are no permits and no enforcement.
#3 It seems like the whole state licensing issue is just a money-making scam on the part of the state. So why should I have any faith in some arbitrary laws with no enforcement? These laws were not voted on by the public. They were put in place by some "holier-than-thou" politicians who need extra money in the coffers by taking advantage of me being an electrician and taking MY money for a license.
#4 The legit contractors don't really want this piddy-anny work anyway. Plus, the contractors make plenty of money already. If they aren't making a bunch of money, then they need to find another business. My side-job ain't gonna break anybody. And I can use that money to pay for %#&*^ $4 a gallon gas.
#5 Actually I am doing a good deed for old Miss Meyers cuz she is on a fixed income and can't afford 60 bucks an hour to have that switch replaced.
Like I said, I am too lazy to do side jobs.