Editorial: Nevadans protected from pool sharks

Friday, April 13, 2001 | 3:31 a.m.

We tip our hat to the state Senate Commerce and Labor Committee for approving legislation that will help consumers fight unsavory swimming pool contractors. Senate Bill 216, sponsored by state Sen. Terry Care, D-Las Vegas, would prevent such contractors from financing their pools and require them to be bonded.

One loophole the bill would eliminate is the ability of pool contractors who finance their own projects to foreclose on homeowners who refuse to repay the loans because of shoddy construction. The bill regrettably will not help Nevadans recoup millions of dollars that they have already lost in crooked deals. Because the state did not adequately address this issue in 1997 after receiving hundreds of consumer complaints, victims of the now-defunct Cascade Pools of Las Vegas have had to take their battle to court.

We hope the Nevada Legislature approves SB216 because consumers are tired of being shafted.