THE LAW - Soltish Electric
SOLTISH ELECTRIC
SOLTISH ELECTRIC
David A. Soltish
David A. Soltish
"Excellent Work Without A Shocking Price"
licensed electrician
Wappingers falls | New York | 845 463-0335
Wappingers falls | New York | 845 463-0335
If You Think Electricians Should Be Licensed, The County Legislature Needs A Message From You The County Legislature is considering a law that requires electrical contractors doing business in the county to be licensed by the county. Right now, any untrained or otherwise unqualified person can claim to be an electrician, do electrical work, and charge as much as a genuinely qualified professional electrician would charge. Is this OK? We don’t think so. Our neighbor counties, and states, have had license laws for years. Safety is the main reason. Electricity can start fires. It can kill. In fact, electricity starts some 40,000 fires each year in the U.S. and on average kills 350 people. We’re for a license law because we believe the people of Dutchess County need and deserve the protection a license law will provide. And we’re the electricians who – if the legislature passes a license law – would have to pay $500 a year for a license, be responsible to a License Board, and be required to carry expensive liability insurance. But why does our county need a license law when our towns and villages all have building inspectors and also require third-party electrical inspections? To make a long argument short, here are the two main things the people protected by a license law get that you don’t get in Dutchess County. 1. A license is a legal document that says an electrician is worthy of your trust. An electrician who has earned a license has proven knowledge, proven competence in keeping electricity safe, and a good business record. And you also can trust that a licensed electrician carries insurance to protect you if property is accidentally damaged or someone is injured on a job. Trustworthy protection, but Dutchess County doesn’t have it. 2. You have leverage. If you have a dispute with a licensed electrician, you can make a complaint to the County Licensing Board. The Board will investigate and take action. The Board has the power, and the responsibility, to decide on your complaint. The Board can rule on restitution (get you a refund), and can put cheaters out of business and even put them in jail. You don’t have this leverage now. Our legislators are receiving letters and e-mail messages that object to a county license law, even though a license law is consumer protection that really protects. Some people are afraid that a license law will make electrical work cost more and bring new government expenses that will raise taxes. Neither is true. A license law won’t change the rates for electrical work, and licensing expenses will be funded by license fees. If you want a license law’s protection, tell the County Legislature. Don’t let the nay-sayers keep you from having protection other counties provide. Tell the legislators to vote for protection, not against it, when the license law comes up for a vote in March. Write a letter. Send e-mail. Do it now. Dutchess County Legislature 22 Market St. Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 Voice (845) 486-2100 Fax (845) 486-2113 E-mail: countylegislature@co.dutchess.ny.us Website: http://www.co.dutchess.ny.us/CountyGov/Departments/Legislature/CLindex.htm This message is sponsored by electricians who believe the people of Dutchess County should have the protection of a license law. Dutchess County Electrical Contractors Association. National Electrical Contractors Association, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 363. If You Think Electricians Should be Licensed, tell the Dutchess County Legislature.
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