More than 100 ‘contractors’ nabbed in statewide sting

SACRAMENTO
September 17, 2009 1:58pm

Four different “stings” by the Contractors State License Board across the state this week have netted 112 would-be contractors for apparent violations of state contracting laws.

The stings were set up in the city of Sacramento and in Yolo County in the Central Valley, as well as in Los Angeles, Riverside and Monterey counties.

Investigators posed as business owners, landlords, homeowners or tenants at commercial properties and homes.

They solicited bids for a variety of projects, ranging from landscaping, concrete, fencing, painting, and flooring to wrought iron and installation of a swimming pool safety fence.

Investigators primarily targeted those who were previously caught contracting without a license. Other targets were identified from advertisements in various local publications and online, and those identified from leads from local law enforcement or trade associations.

Six of the people arrested had been caught before. But a majority of those contacted for bids said they either had gotten out of the business or the job sounded too big for them to perform.

Under California law, all contractors who perform work that totals $500 or more for labor and materials must be licensed by CSLB.

“Consumers must realize that they are taking a risk when they hire an unlicensed contractor to work on their home or business,” says CSLB Registrar Steve Sands. “Not only are licensed contractors required to demonstrate a minimum level of competence in their trade, but they also must carry workers’ compensation and bonds to protect home or business owners in the event something goes wrong.”

Unlicensed contractors often submit lower bids than their licensed counterparts because they do not carry insurance or bonds, and they pay their employees in cash, “under the table,” the CSLB says. If a worker is injured during a construction project, the home or business owner could be legally and financially responsible.