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> Jarlstrom, who holds a bachelors of science degree in engineering from Sweden, has repeatedly challenged Oregon’s timing of yellow traffic lights as too short
by threatofrain 8y ago
> Jarlstrom, who holds a bachelors of science degree in engineering from Sweden, has repeatedly challenged Oregon’s timing of yellow traffic lights as too short.
> He was investigated by the Oregon Board of Examiners for Engineering and Land Surveying for the “unlicensed practice of engineering,’’ after he sent his traffic light calculations to the state board, and identified himself as an engineer to local media and the “60 Minutes” TV news program, and in discussions with the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying.
Mats Jarlstrom was investigating traffic light policies and was fined $500 by the state for unlicensed engineering.
- village-idiot 8y agoSeems like clear cut retaliation.
- rightbyte 8y agoHeh, yeah. It's not like he have made calculation of bridge steel welds or something without proper legal papers. He complained over the yellow light timing ...
- deogeo 8y ago> It's not like he have made calculation of bridge steel welds or something without proper legal papers. Suppose he had. Suppose he found a bridge suspicious, did some calculations, and told a newspaper/transport safety agency about it. Should that be illegal, because the state of Oregon didn't give him permission? Is it okay to very literally fine someone for 'unlicensed use of math'? Thankfully the ruling very strongly implies 'no'. It's important to be precise, or regulation of engineering can become regulation of speech.
- rightbyte 8y agoI agree. I meant a calculations for building a bridge, and having responsibility for it.
- village-idiot 8y agoIndeed. I believe that there should be no licensing requirement to look at these things as a civilian, but the state has a compelling reason to keep unlicensed engineers from telling construction crews on how to build a bridge. Different levels of risk.