South Carolina § 40-59-600 - Penalties; actions to enforce contract; injunction.

§ 40-59-600. Penalties; actions to enforce contract; injunction.

(A) The administrator is authorized to use the powers granted to him pursuant to this chapter to enforce the provisions of this article.

(B) A home inspector who is not otherwise exempt from this article who undertakes or attempts to undertake the business of home inspection without first obtaining a license or who knowingly presents, or files with, the commission false information for the purpose of obtaining a license is guilty of a misdemeanor and:

(1) for the first offense, upon conviction, must be fined not more than one hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days, or both;

(2) for a second offense, upon conviction, must be fined not more than two hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than ninety days, or both.

(3) for a third and subsequent offense, upon conviction, the person must be fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than one hundred eighty days, or both.

(C) A home inspector who does not have a license as required by this article may not bring an action either at law or in equity to enforce the provisions of a contract for home inspection which he entered into in violation of this article.

(D) If it appears to the commission that a home inspector has violated, or is about to violate, a provision of this article, the commission may in its own name petition an administrative law judge to issue a temporary restraining order enjoining the violation of this article, pending a full hearing to determine whether or not the injunction must be made permanent.

HISTORY: 2002 Act No. 359, SECTION 1.

Editor's Note

Prior Laws:1994 Act No. 463, SECTION 3; 1976 Code SECTION 40-59-270.