Nothing Better to Do

Camarillo police on Friday announced the arrest of a dozen contractors they said were working without a license.

Police said the arrests occurred Wednesday and Thursday.

Agents from the Contractors State License Board together with Camarillo police investigated the allegations, authorities said.

They said a sting operation was set up at a commercial property in Camarillo where agents posed as potential customers. Agents found the contractors through advertising local print and online media for contracting services, police said. The contractors were asked by phone to provide bids for various types of work, police said.

Of the 17 contractors contacted, 12 were found to be unlicensed, police said, adding that hey were arrested, cited with contracting without a license and released. Another contractor was found to have a contractor's license that had expired about one month earlier. He was issued an administrative citation, police said. Four contractors were found to be legally licensed and released, police said.

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So many aspects.  Where to begin?  First the four contractors who were licensed.  They were detained then released.  WTF?  They did no wrong.  Were they compensated for their trouble?  Their illegal detention?  Can they sue for responding to an offer of employment that was false?  

Then there are the 12.  That and the fact the ratio was 12 rogue contractors to 5 legitimate operations. Are the rules so tough that they are discouraged from registering?  Is there a burgeoning underground economy?  Is the illegal immigration issue far larger than is acknowledged?  

And no, not all cops are donut addicts.