The Sonoma County District Attorney's Office is cracking down on unlicensed contractors, teaming up with the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) for a surprise compliance check across Sonoma County. DA Carla Rodriguez led the sting, which uncovered a swath of shady business, including labor without proper insurance and several safety infractions.
On a detailed hunt through the county, DA investigators and CSLB sleuths scoured 17 job sites on May 29th, sniffing out illegality where it lay. They turned up six sites skirting the straight and narrow: two licensed contractors caught red-handed with minor ad violations, one worker wrangled without essential insurance cover, and two builders under further scrutiny for lacking that same workers' compensation and sporting additional safety no-nos.
Contracting illegally isn't just a small-time offense, warns Rodriguez. In a statement obtained by Sonoma County DA's office, she emphasizes, "Contracting without a license is not a victimless crime," touching on the distress of property owners who fall into the clutches of these under-the-table operators. They're often left with costly damages, with the DA's Office pledging continued allegiance with the CSLB to protect consumers and keep the industry clean.
California law draws the line clearly – no dice for unlicensed contractors on gigs tallying over $500, counting labor and bits and bobs. The Sonoma County DA's team is grateful for the CSLB's muscle in safeguarding consumer interests from these renegade renovators. If you're smelling something fishy with your contractor, the CSLB is ready at www.cslbadotgov, or dial them toll-free at 1-800-321-CSLB (2752). The DA's Environmental and Consumer Law Division is also taking calls for unfair business antics or advertising fibs at (707) 565-5317 or drop a line to [email protected].
