Violations; penalties.

(a) Any person engaged in business as a certified contractor or performing the functions of a certified contractor in violation of this chapter shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor, as defined by the state criminal code.

(b) The board may, at its discretion, impose late penalties on those certified contractors who fail to renew certificates by December 31 of each year. The board may also remove certification from any certified person who fails to renew his or her certificate by the first day of March and require the person to apply for a new certificate. Furthermore, the board may at its discretion, remove, revoke, or suspend the certification from any certified contractor who provides substandard or dangerous service, repair, or installation, or who otherwise violates this chapter, and may require such person to apply for a new certification. The board may, in its discretion, also require the successful re-testing of any such person who applies for a new certification.

(c) The board may reprimand, in writing, any certified contractor who provides substandard or dangerous service, repair, or installation, or who otherwise violates this chapter.

(d) The board may levy and collect administrative fines for serious violations of this chapter or the rules and regulations of the board of not more than two thousand dollars ($2,000) for each violation.

(e) In addition to or in lieu of the criminal penalties and administrative sanctions provided in this chapter, the board may issue an order to any person, firm, or corporation engaged in any activity, conduct, or practice constituting a violation of this chapter, directing the person, firm, or corporation to forthwith cease and desist from the activity, conduct, practice, or performance of any work then being done or about to be commenced. The order shall be issued in the name of the State of Alabama under the authority of the board. If the person, firm, or corporation to whom the board directs a cease and desist order does not cease or desist the proscribed activity, conduct, practice, or performance of work immediately, the board shall cause to issue in any court of competent jurisdiction and proper venue, a writ of injunction enjoining the person, firm, or corporation from engaging in any activity, conduct, practice, or performance of work prohibited by this chapter. Upon showing by the board that the person, firm, or corporation has engaged or is engaged in any activity, conduct, practice, or performance of work prohibited by this chapter, the courts shall issue a temporary restraining order restraining the person, firm, or corporation from engaging in such unlawful activity, conduct, practice, or performance of work pending the hearing on a preliminary injunction, and in due course a permanent injunction shall issue after the hearing, commanding the cessation of the unlawful activity, conduct, practice, or performance of work complained of, all without the necessity of the board having to give bond. A temporary restraining order, preliminary injunction, or permanent injunction issued pursuant to this subsection shall not be subject to being released on bond. In the suit for an injunction, the board may demand of the defendant a fine of up to two thousand dollars ($2,000) plus costs for each offense. Anyone violating this chapter who fails to cease work, after a hearing and notification from the board, shall not be eligible to apply for a certified contractor's license for a period not to exceed one year from the date of official notification to cease work. The board may withhold approval, for up to six months, of any application from anyone who prior to the application has been found in violation of this chapter.

(Acts 1982, No. 82-547, p. 900, §3.15; Acts 1988, No. 88-217, p. 339, §3; Acts 1992, No. 92-180, p. 333, §3; Act 2000-745, p. 1658, §1; Act 2004-67, p. 82, §3; Act 2009-486, p. 879, §1.)