SAN BERNARDINO • In response to some contractors failing to carry workers’ compensation insurance, the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s office has partnered with the California Contractors State License Board to crack down on the fraud.
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Investigators from the two agencies have conducted compliance checks with about 70 people involved in construction-type work at their job sites in Redlands and Rancho Cucamonga during the past two months, according to a press release from the DA’s office. Investigators haven’t done checks in the High Desert yet, DA’s Senior Investigator Steve Rivera said, but they plan to come up here, too.
“Workers’ comp fraud is a crime that victimizes every honest business and taxpayer in San Bernardino County because they are forced to take on the unnecessary burden of higher premiums,” District Attorney Michael Ramos said in a written statement.
According to the law, prosecutors can file criminal charges against any businesses owners who have employees but don’t get proper workers’ compensation insurance coverage. Rivera said the insurance protects both the employers and employees.
Most of the contractors checked during the investigation were in compliance so far, Rivera said. But the state license board has issued orders against four contractors to stop all work on the job site until they obtain the insurance.
“It’s what I consider a white-collar crime where people, they don’t feel it’s a crime,” Rivera said.
Contractors without the insurance will have a few days to comply, but they could face license suspension and fines if they don’t, according to the release.
