2013 Louisiana Laws
Revised Statutes
TITLE 37 - Professions and Occupations
RS 37:2160 - Engaging in business of contracting without authority prohibited; penalty

§2160. Engaging in business of contracting without authority prohibited; penalty

A.(1) It shall be unlawful for any person to engage or to continue in this state in the business of contracting, or to act as a contractor as defined in this Chapter, unless he holds an active license as a contractor under the provisions of this Chapter.

(2) It shall be unlawful for any contractor, licensed or unlicensed, who advertises in any form or in any news medium, to advertise that he is a licensed contractor without specifying the type of license to which he is referring.

B. It shall be sufficient for the indictment, affidavit, or complaint to allege that the accused unlawfully engaged in business as a contractor without authority from the State Licensing Board for Contractors.

C.(1) Anyone violating this Section of this Chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined a sum not to exceed five hundred dollars per day of violation, or three months in prison, or both.

(2) Notwithstanding any action taken by the board, any person, who does not possess a license from the board, and who violates any of the provisions of this Section, and causes harm or damage to another in excess of three hundred dollars, upon conviction, shall be fined not less than five hundred dollars nor more than five thousand dollars, or imprisoned, with or without hard labor, for not less than six months nor more than five years, or both.

(3) Any fine so assessed and collected shall be remitted to the contractor's educational trust fund provided for in R.S. 37:2162(J).

D. The district attorney, in whose jurisdiction the violation occurs, shall have sole authority to prosecute criminal actions pursuant to this Section.

Added by Acts 1956, No. 233, §10. Amended by Acts 1962, No. 184, §1; Acts 1964, No. 113, §10; Acts 1981, No. 668, §1; Acts 1992, No. 681, §1, eff. July 6, 1992; Acts 2001, No. 802, §1; Acts 2009, No. 156, §1.