I have everyone beat. For those of you who are familiar with my mile-long posts, fasten you seatbelts. Here we go:

An existing customer is expanding and opening a fourth office (YES!). Not a huge jub, but it's nice to have them keep coming back. I am not complaining.

Customer needs 32 cables run, a less than $3,000.00 job. We started negotiations on this job a while back, but didn't actually go to get the permit until we had the deposit in-hand. They give us the site address and tell us it's in the city of Rockville, MD. We contact that city's permits office and they inform us that no license is required, just a simple form and a check. That was a month ago, so we figured it wouldn't be any big deal.

We go to the city office on Wednesday with check in hand, only to be told that this particular block on that street isn't within the city limits (the city/county boundary zig/zags). We are directed to go to the Montgomery County, MD offices up the street (within the city; how confusing). We don't do a lot of work in this area, that's why we don't know much about the local policies.

There, it's not so simple. They don't allow us to use our statewide Maryland license and a local business license like most other jurisdictions. You have to apply (and be approved by the board that meets twice a month). They allow reciprocity using another license from a neighboring jusrisdiction. Fortunately, we have plenty of them.

Problem is, I have to take the forms to the neighboring Prince George's County and have them sign-off. That's not normally something they do on a walk-in basis; you leave the forms there and they call you to come pick them up once they are signed. I manage to call (and beg) someone to sign them for me so I can take them to the other county offices. They do it for me and I am on my way around the Beltway.

By the way, my license in that county expires tonight at midnight, but I have attended the continuing education classes, paid the renewal fees, sent them photos of myself (see left), all that is required. Thank goodness that while I was there begging them to sign my form, they happened to remember having seen my renewal application and "there was a problem".

You see, there are varying degrees of license level fees in this county (Prince George's County, MD). We checked the wrong box and sent the wrong amount in with the renewal forms. They allowed me, while I was there, to just give them a check for the difference. So far, things are going very well for me today.

I arrive at Montgomery County's offices (located in downtown Rockville, MD) with all of my forms, insurance certificates, affadavits, check for $506.00, you name it. I wait in line, eventually get my turn and all is good. Fortunately, the board will be meeting on Monday night, so my application will be presented and I will be legitimate by Tuesday morning.

Not bad! The guy even lets me go ahead and fill out the permit application for the job and pay the $140.80 fee for it. He is going to hold onto it until he gets the green light and he will speed-process it for me so we at least have a permit number on Tuesday. Bear in mind that we were supposed to start the job on Monday, but hey, that's our fault for waiting until we had the job deposit.

Only one catch: My Prince George's County license expires at midnight tonight. The Montgomery County Board doesn't meet until Monday night. By then, my supporting documentation will be invalid. The guy tells me to just fax him the new license from Prince George's as soon as I receive it. Keep in mind that as of 11:30 this morning, P.G. was still sitting on my application, so something tells me I won't be seeing my new license in the mail on Monday. Get where I am going here? It's a Catch 22 situation.

OK, well I will just have to wait and see what happens on Monday. I am on the way back to the office after having completely (yes completely) circled the Beltway (about 60 miles) in my quest. My phone rings and I am told that a Fairfax County, VA permit that we pulled last week has the wrong suite number on it and it will have to be redone. Back to the office, pick up another check and application, then head out to Fairfax. By 3:30, I have the new permit in hand and I head back to the office.

It's been a whole day of my time, 200 miles @$3.00 per gallon, and $771.80 worth of checks written, but hopefully by Tuesday, we will be all set.

God, it sure is great being a legitimate business. 90% of our competition isn't. Hmmmmm.....Maybe they are the smart ones!

I hope you enjoyed my little story about regulation and it's pitfalls.

Ed Vaughn, MBSWWYPBX