§34-8-6. Prohibited acts; penalties; cease and desist orders.

(a) Any person, firm, or corporation not being duly authorized who shall engage in the business of general contracting in this state, except as provided for in this chapter, and any person, firm, or corporation presenting or attempting to file as its own the license certificate of another, or who shall give false or forged evidence of any kind to the board, or to any member thereof, in obtaining a certificate of license, or who falsely shall impersonate another, or who shall use an expired or revoked certificate of license shall be deemed guilty of a Class A misdemeanor and for each offense for which he or she is convicted shall be punished as provided by law. Furthermore, any person including an owner, architect, engineer, construction manager, or private awarding authority who considers a bid from anyone not properly licensed under this chapter shall be deemed guilty of a Class B misdemeanor and shall for each offense of which he or she is convicted be punished as provided by law.

(b) Every person, firm, or corporation licensed pursuant to this chapter shall include his or her license number in all construction contracts, subcontracts, bids, and proposals. Any person, firm, or corporation violating this provision shall be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor and shall for each offense of which he or she is convicted be punished as provided by law.

(c) 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 the 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 official seal 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 as 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 five thousand dollars ($5,000) plus costs and attorney fees for each offense. A judgment for penalty, attorney fees, and costs may be rendered in the same judgment in which the injunction is made absolute. The trial of the proceeding by injunction shall be summary and by the trial judge without jury. 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 contractor's license for a period not to exceed one year from the date of official notification to cease work. It shall be within the power of the board to 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.

(d) The submission of the contractor's current license number before considering the bid shall be sufficient evidence to relieve the owner, architect, engineer, construction manager, or awarding authority of any liability under this chapter.

(Acts 1935, No. 297, p. 721, §12; Code 1940, T. 46, §77; Acts 1959, No. 571, p. 1429, §1; Acts 1996, No. 96-640, p. 1013, §1; Act 99-199, p. 251, §3; Act 2009-725, p. 2168, §1.)