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North CarolinaNC Supplementmedium100% of exam part

Under NC General Statutes Chapter 87, what is the maximum fine for contracting without a license for a first offense?

Correct Answer

A) $2,500

NC General Statutes Chapter 87 sets the maximum fine for first-time unlicensed contracting at $2,500.

Answer Options
A
$2,500
B
$5,000
C
$1,000
D
$500

Why This Is the Correct Answer

NC General Statutes Chapter 87 establishes specific penalty amounts for unlicensed contracting. For a first offense, the maximum fine is $2,500. This statutory cap is intended to deter unlicensed activity while providing a graduated penalty structure — subsequent offenses carry higher potential fines and additional consequences.

Why the Other Options Are Wrong

Option B: $5,000

$5,000 is the penalty level associated with subsequent offenses or escalated violations, not the first-offense maximum. Choosing this amount suggests confusion between the first-offense cap and the penalty for repeat offenders.

Option C: $1,000

$1,000 is below the statutory maximum established by Chapter 87 for a first offense. Candidates who guess a lower round number may be confusing this figure with fines from other states or other regulatory contexts.

Option D: $500

$500 significantly understates the penalty and does not correspond to any threshold in Chapter 87 for unlicensed contracting. This low figure might be confused with minor municipal-level fines rather than state licensing violations.

Memory Technique

Remember: 'First offense in NC = $2,500 — two and a half thousand, not five.' Think of it as half of the $5,000 repeat-offense penalty. First time = half the pain; second time = double down.

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