Out-of-touch bureaucrats

When bureaucrats need funds to finance their operations, and more "apprehended offenders" to justify their existence, what do they do?

They go out and invent some more dubious "violations" to justify issuing fresh fines, of course -- twisting the definitions of words in the existing statutes near the breaking point, and generally making sure their nonsense fines actually cost less for innocent people to pay than it would cost them to retain a lawyer and head to court.

Last Monday, as reported by Review-Journal columnist Jane Ann Morrison, Ernie Talavera, a "compliance investigator" with the Nevada State Contractors Board, contacted Tom Delahunty, owner of the 14-employee, $2 million-a-year outfit licensed as Advantage Builders of Nevada Inc., to inform him his citations would be coming in the mail.

Mr. Delahunty's offense? When Mr. Talavera telephoned his premises, the receptionist there answered the phone "Advantage Builders," instead of using the firm's full legal name, "Advantage Builders of Nevada Inc."

No, no need to wait for the rest of the "offense." That's it.

Mr. Talavera didn't make it clear whether the employee is now obliged to pronounce it like "Ink," or to sound out "Incorporated." Presumably after a few thousands dollars in additional fines the board may deign to make that clear.

For that matter, the portion of Nevada Revised Statute 624.300 cited in the complaint indicates even saying the name in full may not suffice. The board, absurdly, is claiming that answering the phone constitutes an "advertisement," and the statute says "advertisements" must include not only the licensed contractor's name, but also his license number.

Nor is Mr. Delahunty the only victim of such nonsense. Ask local painter Larry Smith, who was once cited by the same board for simply handing out a business card with his phone number on it.

"This is what is fueling the raging anger in America today," says Mr. Delahunty. "Out-of-touch bureaucrats trying to legislate and regulate every aspect of our lives."

We've got a suggestion for lawmakers when they convene next winter and start to whine there's "no place left to cut." If investigators at the Nevada State Contractors Board have enough time to worry about how a company answers its phone, there's still plenty of room for belt-tightening.