Building a trap for unlicensed contractors
The $10 billion that Californians spend annually on home remodeling and construction is a major boost for the economy that supports countless businesses and workers. It's also a major attraction for unlicensed contractors. That's why state regulators have organized sting operations to try and catch them. Times staff writer Robert J. Lopez witnessed a sting operation last March in Van Nuys and videotaped it. His full story about one woman's ordeal with an unlicensed contractor will appear in Sunday's Real Estate section.
"It's safe to say that there are thousands of people out there breaking the law by contracting without a license," said Pamela Mares, a spokeswoman for the Contractors State License Board. "There's a lot of money out there, and they know it."
-- Jesus Sanchez
Video: Robert J. Lopez / Los Angeles Times
