Arrested For...Unclogging A Toilet Without A License?!
In Hillsborough County, Florida, real criminals -- the sort of people we think of as criminals: those who rob, rape, etc. -- shouldn't be too worried about the police coming after them. The police are very busy there going after -- yes! -- unlicensed handymen!
Christian Britschgi writes at Reason:
The residents of Hillsborough County, Florida, can sleep safely tonight following the arrest of 118 people for performing unlicensed contracting work as part of a Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office sting known as "Operation House Hunters."The sting, according to Patch, saw sheriff's deputies pose as homeowners seeking handymen on social media to do jobs that required licensure. These unsuspecting handymen would be lured to one of five homes, where undercover deputies filmed them performing or agreeing to perform prohibited tasks like painting or installing recess lighting.
Painting! Not removing the homeowner's appendix.
I would hire unlicensed handymen for a number of jobs because it's probably cheaper than hiring the licensed kind.
Why can't that be my choice?
Licensing is very often a scheme by those with established businesses to keep the newbies out.
The best is the sort of case the Institute for Justice keeps taking on: Black women who do hair braiding who have to go to white woman hair school to learn techniques they will never, ever use.
Do you feel safer?
I can see the next step in this is to go after people like me, who do a lot of their own work. "Unlicensed Homeowner" will be their next target, I'm certain!
James Armstrong at February 9, 2020 6:17 AM
Relax. If any are illegal immigrants, they'll be released.
Gotta have those votes!
Radwaste at February 9, 2020 7:09 AM
Because the government makes no money off unlicensed handymen.
There's also a somewhat legitimate concern that an unlicensed handyman doesn't know the building codes or know what he's doing and will mess up your house worse than it already was - doing unlicensed plumbing electrical, or even carpentry work.
It shouldn't require a general contractor's license to paint a house, however.
Conan the Grammarian at February 9, 2020 7:53 AM
Or was this whole thing a way of spending tax dollars so cops could get "free" handyman work done?
Notice that the article says they would hire the handyman for one thing (which didn't require a license) and turn the conversation while the handyman was there to something that did require a license.
If the handyman didn't take the bait, who paid for the work he legally did? The cop or the tax payer?
They pull this nonsense in my town I WILL go to Borough Hall meetings and complain about my tax dollars being used to fix someone else's house!
charles at February 9, 2020 10:02 AM
The nonsense of licensing casts a much wider net than just handymen.
I'm a licensed tax professional. But I just found out that I'm not allowed to file papers for a client who wants to start a corporation -- even if the client knows exactly what he wants. It is considered the practice of law. The client can fill out his own form or hire an attorney, but he can't hire me.
throwaway4859 at February 9, 2020 12:08 PM
"Safety" is often the excuse used for licensing requirements. In a few cases I can buy the argument (surgeon for example). But in many cases it is bogus. NC I believe requires you to have a lic to be an interior decorator. If you don't like the person's designs, don't hire them. Same with haircuts--who could be hurt by a haircut? (dyeing maybe). Ironically, a position that does not require a college degree or any certificate is politician.
cc at February 9, 2020 12:54 PM
If they are unlicensed, they are also likely to be uninsured. If they get hurt on your property, their slip & fall lawyers will likely sue you and your insurance company for the damages.
I R A Darth Aggie at February 9, 2020 3:11 PM
That said, I'm so very happy that the constabulary of Hillsborough County have rounded up all the dangerous criminals, gang bangers, prohibited persons and their firearms, the meth cookers, the petty criminals, and all of the sex workers and have time to ensnare handypeople.
I R A Darth Aggie at February 9, 2020 3:24 PM
Take a look at Love It or List It, Too and count the number of homes that are not up to code - that actually fail in part because of their not being up to code.
Construction cheating is a multibillion-dollar industry, one made famous by the Irish Travelers, whom you have apparently forgotten.
You can't tell when your "contractor" puts seamed copper pipe in where iron is required, or when he reverses wires (yes, AC has an install polarity).
But you can tell others not to hire "Joe" because your house burned down with your kids in it after he worked on it. If you remember. Cheap work can still last for a couple of years.
A simple letter of association with a general contractor, followed by a visit from a code inspector, will put you in the clear.
Yes, you can be sued after you sell your house if you commissioned work that DIDN'T meet code. Be smart.
Radwaste at February 10, 2020 7:20 AM
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