TITLE 54

PROFESSIONS, VOCATIONS, AND BUSINESSES

CHAPTER 19

PUBLIC WORKS CONTRACTORS

54-1920.  Penalties — Injunction. (1) Any person, firm, copartnership, corporation, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, association or other organization acting in the capacity of a public works contractor within the meaning of this chapter, without a license as herein provided or fails to comply with the provisions of subsection (1), (2) or (3) of section 67-2310, Idaho Code, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished by a fine not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000) or by imprisonment in the county jail for a term not to exceed one (1) year or by both such fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of the court. The same penalties shall apply, upon conviction to any member of a copartnership, or to any construction, managing or directing officer of any corporation, limited liability company or limited liability partnership, or other organization consenting to, participating in, or aiding or abetting any such violation of this chapter.

(2)  Every public officer who knowingly lets a public contract to any person, firm, copartnership, corporation, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, association or other organization who does not hold a license as required by the provisions of this chapter or knowingly fails to comply with the provisions of subsection (1) or (2) of section 67-2310, Idaho Code, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction, punishable as provided in this section, unless, however, there be no qualified bidder willing to undertake the public works covered by the contract. No person engaged in the business or acting in the capacity of a contractor, may bring or maintain any action in any court of this state for the collection of compensation for the performance of any act or contract for which a license is required by this chapter without alleging and providing that he was a duly licensed contractor at all times during the performance of such act or contract.

(3)  In addition to any other penalties specified in this section, whenever any person violates the provisions of this chapter by acting as a public works contractor without a license, the administrator may maintain an action in the name of the state of Idaho to enjoin the person from any further violations. Such action may be brought either in the county in which the acts are claimed to have been or are being committed, in the county where the defendant resides or in Ada county. Upon the filing of a verified complaint in the district court, the court, if satisfied that the acts complained of have been or probably are being or may be committed, may issue a temporary restraining order and/or preliminary injunction, without bond, enjoining the defendant from the commission of any such act or acts constituting the violation. A copy of the complaint shall be served upon the defendant and the proceedings shall thereafter be conducted as in other similar civil actions. If the commission of the act or acts is established, the court shall enter a decree permanently enjoining the defendant from committing such act or acts. If an injunction issued under the provisions of this section is violated, the court, or the judge thereof at chambers, may summarily try and punish the offender for contempt of court.

History:

[54-1920, added 1941, ch. 115, sec. 21, p. 212; am. 1955, ch. 223, sec. 8, p. 480; am. 1969, ch. 18, sec. 5, p. 30; am. 1999, ch. 201, sec. 22, p. 544; am. 2000, ch. 318, sec. 2, p. 1074; am. 2002, ch. 127, sec. 2, p. 356; am. 2007, ch. 127, sec. 2, p. 383.]