No idea what happened to the Humboldt unlicensed contractors referred by the CSLB to the Humboldt County DA. I tried to find out but CSLB issued a notice to appear in criminal court to five individuals from Novato.
CSLB press release:
The Contractors State License Board (CSLB) cited unlicensed individuals who illegally placed bids as high as $15,000 for residential contracting work during a recent one-day sting in Marin County.
In mid-April, CSLB’s Statewide Investigative Fraud Team (SWIFT) and the Marin and Sonoma County District Attorney’s Offices went undercover to catch unlicensed contractors in Novato. A Notice to Appear in criminal court was issued to five individuals at the sting site. Five others were referred to the Marin County District Attorney for misdemeanor prosecution for placing a construction bid after leaving the property or advertising while being unlicensed.
The bids ranged from $1,600 to as much as $15,000 for home improvement projects including tree removal and fence rebuilding – all above the legal $500 threshold for which a contractor’s license is required. In California, contracting without a license is a misdemeanor and punishable by a fine of up to $15,000.
One individual also asked for an excessive down payment ahead of starting the work. Contractors can only ask for a deposit of 10 percent or $1,000, whichever is less. This is a misdemeanor that could result in charges of up to $5,000, up to a one-year county jail sentence, or both.
“Our primary goal in conducting sting operations is to keep consumers safe from illegal contracting scams, which is why we encourage them to always check a license and get at least three bids on any home improvement project,” said David Fogt, CSLB Registrar. “Another reason is to educate people on how to get a contractor’s license. Those who want to learn more about getting licensed should attend one of our virtual licensing workshops offered in both English and Spanish.”
Related posts:
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2024/04/cslb-is-unwavering-in-our-dedication-to.html?m=1
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2024/02/i-contacted-clsb-for-names-of.html?m=1
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