Magistrate reduces fine for Global Sign after missing license number on website

The Pinellas County special magistrate on July 13 reduced a citation against Global Sign Company to a $500 penalty after the company acknowledged its contractor license number was missing from online listings.

County investigator Norman Nichols testified that he found a recruiting sign placed in the right of way and web listings for Global Signs that did not display the contractor’s registration. Nichols said he scanned the sign’s QR code and confirmed the listing pointed to the business and that the county’s records did not show a license number posted on the website. Assistant county attorney Kirby Crider moved the composite exhibits, including site photos, property-appraiser details and an affidavit of licensure, into evidence without objection.

Christopher Wicks acknowledged the website omission and said the change was an oversight during a recent site update: "Our license number is not published on our website. We recently updated our website, and it was a detail that was overlooked. It was sent back to our website company to add to the site, and we hope to have it up there before the end of this week," he said. Wicks also said the company had proactively added license numbers to now-hiring signs and trucks.

County counsel urged enforcement under Pinellas County code 22-14-1, which requires contractor registration numbers to appear in contractor advertising. The magistrate said he would do “some homework” on the statutory language cited by the defense but ultimately treated the website omission leniently and ordered a reduced $500 fine and costs, with payment and appeal instructions to be mailed and emailed to the defendant.

The county emphasized that the case record includes photographs of the sign on the right of way and the online pages shown to the court. The magistrate’s order notes the corrective steps already taken by the business and the reduced fine reflects those mitigating facts.