Rhode Island General Laws
Chapter 5-65 - Contractors’ Registration and Licensing Board
Section 5-65-19. - Penalty for operating without a registration — Failure to comply with a final order or decision — Repeat offenses.

§ 5-65-19. Penalty for operating without a registration — Failure to comply with a final order or decision — Repeat offenses.
In addition to any other penalties provided under this chapter:
(1) Any person who fails to register as a contractor as adjudged in a final order issued by the board, upon proper written notification, is deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be imprisoned for a term not exceeding one year, fined not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both, for a first or second offense. A third or subsequent violation of this chapter by a person for failure to register as a contractor is deemed a felony and, upon conviction, the violator shall be imprisoned for a term not exceeding two (2) years, fined not more than two thousand dollars ($2,000), or both.
(2) Any person who violates a final order of the board where the monetary total of the order is not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), upon proper written notification, is deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction, shall be imprisoned for a term not exceeding one year, fined not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both.
(3) Any person who violates a final order of the board where the monetary total of the order is five thousand dollars ($5,000) or more, upon written notification, is deemed guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, shall be imprisoned for a term not exceeding ten (10) years, fined not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or both.
(4) In addition to any sentence or fine imposed by the court under subsections (1), (2), and (3), the court shall order a defendant to comply with any outstanding final order or decision of the board or office, including payment of any outstanding fine or fines previously imposed by the board or office pursuant to this chapter.
(5) If by final orders or decisions of the board or office a contractor is found to have committed violations of this chapter with respect to three (3) or more separate contracts with three (3) separate individuals/aggrieved parties and the violations occurred within a twenty-four-month (24) period, the violations shall be deemed and prosecuted as a felony and upon conviction the violator shall be subject to imprisonment for a term not to exceed ten (10) years or fined not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000).
History of Section.P.L. 1992, ch. 381, § 2; P.L. 1994, ch. 350, § 2; P.L. 1996, ch. 322, § 1; P.L. 2001, ch. 322, § 1; P.L. 2006, ch. 648, § 1; P.L. 2008, ch. 364, § 1; P.L. 2018, ch. 64, § 1; P.L. 2018, ch. 69, § 1; P.L. 2022, ch. 251, § 1, effective June 28, 2022; P.L. 2022, ch. 252, § 1, effective June 28, 2022.

Structure Rhode Island General Laws

Rhode Island General Laws

Title 5 - Businesses and Professions

Chapter 5-65 - Contractors’ Registration and Licensing Board

Section 5-65-1. - Definitions.

Section 5-65-2. - Exemptions from registration — Registered agent for service of process.

Section 5-65-3. - Registration for work on a structure required of contractor — Issuance of building permits to unregistered or unlicensed contractors prohibited — Evidence of activity as a contractor — Duties of contractors.

Section 5-65-4. - Registration required to obtain judicial or administrative remedy — Exception.

Section 5-65-5. - Application for registration — Continuing education.

Section 5-65-6. - Contractor to notify of address change — Effect of mail to last known address.

Section 5-65-7. - Insurance required of contractors.

Section 5-65-7.1. - Notice of cancellation or failure to renew policies.

Section 5-65-8. - Term of registration — Renewal.

Section 5-65-9. - Registration fee — Report.

Section 5-65-10. - Grounds for discipline — Injunctions.

Section 5-65-11. - Submission of complaints.

Section 5-65-12. - Procedure for making a complaint against a contractor — Investigation by board — Disciplinary action.

Section 5-65-12.1. - Alternate procedure for making claims against a contractor — Private right of action.

Section 5-65-13. - Nonlawyer may represent corporation before board.

Section 5-65-14. - Contractors’ registration and licensing board — Members — Terms — Confirmation — Vacancies — Qualification.

Section 5-65-15. - Officers — Quorum — Compensation and expenses.

Section 5-65-15.1. - Staff.

Section 5-65-16. - Powers and duties of the board — Investigatory powers of board — Use of city or county inspectors — Conduct of hearings.

Section 5-65-17. - Rulemaking authority.

Section 5-65-18. - Mechanics’ lien notice.

Section 5-65-19. - Penalty for operating without a registration — Failure to comply with a final order or decision — Repeat offenses.

Section 5-65-20. - Administrative hearings.

Section 5-65-21. - Severability.

Section 5-65-22. - Display of certificate of registration.

Section 5-65-23. - Registration required as part of bidding process.

Section 5-65-24. - Limited applicability of chapter to nonresidential contractors.

Section 5-65-25. - Violations — Notice.

Section 5-65-26. - Notice of final order — Service of process.

Section 5-65-27. - Elderly person in-home solicitation — Right to cancel.