A license is deemed to be used for controlled business if during any 12-month period:

A license is considered to be used for controlled business when the total premiums on controlled business exceed the premiums from all other types of business during any 12-month period. This helps define the concept of controlled business, which typically refers to insurance transactions where the licensee has a significant, often personal, interest in the insured parties, such as family, employees, or business associates.

The rationale behind this definition is to prevent situations where someone might use their insurance license primarily for their own personal gain rather than serving the broader public interest. By setting the threshold where controlled business premiums exceed those from all other business, regulators can monitor and limit potential conflicts of interest and ensure that the license is used ethically and primarily for the benefit of a wider customer base.

In contrast, the other options introduce various numerical thresholds that do not capture the core essence of controlled business usage as effectively. For instance, simply writing more than ten policies or reaching a specific dollar amount in premiums does not necessarily indicate that the licensee's activities are not primarily self-serving. The key focus remains on the proportionality of controlled business compared to overall business to safeguard ethical practices in the insurance industry.