Which of the following best describes the penalty schedule for willful disregard of building safety or labor laws?

• A. $100 for first violation, and $500 each subsequent
• B. $50 for first, $250 thereafter
• C. $0
• D. $200 for first, $400 thereafter

Answer: (A)

Penalties for willful disregard of safety or labor laws are set to deter repeat violations by escalating after each incident. When the violation is willful, authorities expect a stronger response, not just a one-time hit. The best description is a pattern where the first violation carries a modest penalty, and each subsequent willful violation carries a substantially higher penalty. This structure reinforces compliance and shows that repeated disregard will cost more. Other schedules that start with a higher first penalty, fail to escalate, or impose no penalty at all don’t align with this deterrence approach.