IMPORTANT NEWS...
Department of Business and Professional Regulation Issues Eight Cease and Desists for Unlicensed Construction
March 18, 2009
PLANTATION—The Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s Division of Regulation swept through the Plantation area, ensuring compliance with state licensing laws. During the compliance checks, DBPR issued eight cease and desists to individuals for practicing construction work that requires a state license. A cease and desist is an official notice from the department informing an individual that future unlicensed activity could result in further action. Division of Regulation staff partnered with the Broward County Contractor Licensing and Enforcement Sections Investigations Unit and the Plantation Police Department on the operation.
Division of Regulation staff and partnering agencies conducted a commercial vehicle operation stop, where commercial vehicles that appeared to be involved in contracting were checked for appropriate licensure. Division of Regulation staff issued the eight ceases and desists when individuals were unable to provide proof of state licensure, which would have been required for the work they were performing.
The Broward County Contractor Licensing and Enforcement Sections Investigations Unit and the Plantation Police Department also issued various citations and made arrests. For information on their enforcement efforts, please contact the appropriate agency.
Unlicensed activity threatens the financial and personal safety of consumers, leaving them with little to no recourse. State-licensed professionals are also impacted by unlicensed activity. Unlicensed individuals often underbid licensed professionals, but they usually do not carry workers’ compensation or liability insurance, posing an increased threat to consumers and cutting out licensed professionals.
The department’s ultimate goal is to bring people into compliance with the law. Unlicensed activity charges do not bar an individual from obtaining a license. The department’s mission is to license efficiently and regulate fairly, and the overall goal is to ensure that those providing professional services to Floridians obtain a license in order to comply with the law.
The department’s mission is to license efficiently and regulate fairly. The department licenses more than one million businesses and professionals ranging from real estate agents, veterinarians, and accountants to contractors and cosmetologists. For more information, please visit MyFloridaLicense.com.
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