ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area Permit Snafus...AHJs and Contractors Jump in

Greg:
IF the work is in progress, a Stop Work' placard is posted at the site, and the 'workers are told to vacate. A Stop Work document, along with a Notice of Violation, and Board of Appeals form are prepared and either mailed (Cert & Reg), or sometimes hand delivered to the offender/owner. Usual $$ is $2000 which may be negotiated down for an acceptable reason.

Continuing to proceed with work under a Stop can result in $2k per day, and it may be enacted for each trade.

These are state forms and procedures.

A more serious situation for Licensed ECs, Plumbers, is notification of the State Boards. They levy fines of $10k, suspensions, for repeat offenders.
They also have a payment plan of regular installments.

The trunk slammers that are long gone, or hiding, IF they get snagged, face a local fine, and are handed over to the Board (State) for that trade.

As any comedian will tell you, timing is of the essence.

The concept of 'public servant' is simply dishonest; 'government' is by definition legalized thuggery. It's not as if you have a choice, or can choose a competitor!

Oh, sometimes they put on a pretty PR face, but the simple fact remains that you need them - and they feel they don't need you. Hence the building departments that have limited hours, etc. They couldn't care less about your 'convenience.'

Look for them to get even more draconian, and surlier, as budgets tighten and they suddenly look at all the fees and penalties thay can impose. Look for them to take a page from LEED, and charge you for every step. Need to correct your plans to accomodate their requirements? Look to pay another fee. Need a reinspection? Pay again.

Likewise, look for them to extend their reach into areas formerly exempt. I'll bet Chicago will follow Florida's lead, and require engineered plans for a dog house- after all, it's the windy city, isn't it?

Never forget that the original reason for 'police' was to collect the King's taxes- not to keep granny from getting mugged. Remember that whenever there is a sudden concern voiced over 'public safety.'

Around here, most times working without a Permit is smoothed over by a friendly call to the Alderman...unless he has it out for the person doing the work.

It's depressing to see how many politicians see obtaining a Permit and complying with the Code as a nuisance. We're trying to avoid future problems with poory done work and they see it as something that makes their voters unhappy. Then they complain that the revenue from issuing Permits is much lower than projected.

Oh, well; What are you going to do?

Reno:

My intent within this single post is not to start a flame war, just to respond.

"The concept of 'public servant' is simply dishonest; 'government' is by definition legalized thuggery. It's not as if you have a choice, or can choose a competitor!"

The implications of that statement would be extreemly objectionable to employees within my office.

Yes, there basically is 'no choice', but there are channels that can be followed for any defense of non-compliance.

I will end this with one comment: I do not go out looking for violators, never did, never will. I have to do my job and respond to complaints. And, FWIW, dropping a dime on someone to the State is not somewhere that I would go, unless the situation called for that.

They drop a stop work here too. I am not sure what fines are imposed beyond doubling the permit fee tho. There can also be a complaint filed with the license people. From what I see you have to make the AHJ mad to get that. (repeat offender, egregious violations or just being a "hole")
The funny thing is the trunk slammers with no licenses at all get off easier than a licensed trade since they would have to file a criminal complaint, with everything that goes with that and not just an administrative action by the licensing board. Again you really have to be a bad actor for it to go that far. You have to get a DA mad at you.
The person who gets caught in the middle is the building owner because they end up being liable for anything done by an unlicensed worker along with any other liabilities that might arise (injuries, damage to other properties etc).

yup, been beat out by them quite a bit here, they even advertise themselves in the local rags w/o a license as 'cheaper' , and i've even had some use my company name

there's just no use in dropping a dime either, unless the DA's your uncle

but i figure i'll get even when i semi-retire to unlicensed handyman status doing small electrical jobs on the side after a hard day doling out bogus info at the big orange or blue place

look for the dude standing on the top of the ladder w/ a flask in his toolbelt
~S~

but Reno does make some good points HotOne. For instance, many states are facing austerity, so the first thing they cut are services that are less than apparent.

Myself, i've finished a job in April, and am still waiting for an electrical inspector's final to get paid

And i've been a 'public servant' now for 1/2 century, so i know all too well the public scrutiny one faces out there having to do XXXXXXXXXXXXXX with XXX, and maybe a promise of XX in next years fairy tale budget


imho, the defining line bettween public servant , and public nusiance is placing someone in said position year in and out




~S~

didn't know that

but i do watch the news

seems i've seen a number of engineered structures that just up and violate it all when mother nature comes to town....

~S~

I do believe in our wind code. If you really do what they say I believe your house will survive just about anything but a flood with minimal damage.

This is still one of my favorite pictures (150 mph wind code)

http://gfretwell.com/electrical/art.gilchrist.house.irpt.jpg

lol Greg! proof that those who go the extra mile for compliance really DO stand out!

~S~