Rockland Cracks Down on Unlicensed Contractors in Wake of Nagle Murder
More Than Half of Spot Checks Reveal Unlicensed Contractors
May 24, 2005 1:06 pm US/Eastern
NEW CITY, N.Y -- (AP) Rockland County's crackdown on unlicensed contractors has created a flurry of activity at the county's consumer protection office where contractors can sign up with the county.

The crackdown comes after a New City woman was killed in her home allegedly by a man power washing her back deck. The worker was an employee of a New Jersey contractor who had let his Rockland license lapse.

Since last Friday the county has done spot checks at 17 sites where home improvement contractors were working. Ten of those contractors did not have county licenses.

Contractors given a 250 dollar ticket for not having a county license can register within ten days and have the fine dropped.

The man charged with killing 42-year-old Mary Nagle in her home has pleaded not guilty. Officials say Ronald Douglas Herrera Castellanos was an illegal immigrant who had over-stayed his visa.Contractors getting a Rockland license have to show proof of a registered business and insurance. However Rockland's Consumer Affairs Commissioner Terry Grosselfinger says the license paperwork does not include background checks on employees.

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