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Man fined for criticizing govt using science, without a license
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Richard Crowley:

--- Quote from: EEVblog on April 26, 2017, 01:35:58 pm ---I can understand using a title bestowed by the Society of Civil Engineers, like P.E or whatever it is, but simply using the word "engineer" when it's both your vocation and the name of your degreed field of study is crazy.

--- End quote ---
Saltzman is a chronic thorn in the side of the state government.  They hate him and go after him for everything and anything they can dream up.  Politics as usual here in the Silicon Forest.
iainwhite:
Teslacoil:   I hope Oregon doesn't have a trade body for "Experts" . . . . they may want $500 from you      :)





edpalmer42:

--- Quote from: Red Squirrel on April 26, 2017, 10:35:24 am ---That's freaking ridiculous.    Having to be "registered" to practice engineering is a thing... wow.  I don't want to live on this planet anymore.  Seriously, this kind of stuff pisses me off and it's all over.  So much ridiculous legislation like this everywhere you turn and it's only getting worse.

--- End quote ---

In all Canadian provinces, if you call yourself a Professional Engineer without being a member of the provincial engineering association, you will be prosecuted under provincial law.  Unfortunately, it's provincial, not federal law that applies.

Microsoft got into a lot of trouble some years ago with their software engineer degrees.  It went all the way to the Supreme Court.  Microsoft lost.

Ed
Bud:
J just recently met with some US company rep who had "Sales Engineer" title on his card. That was funny.
rstofer:

--- Quote from: NANDBlog on April 26, 2017, 12:34:07 pm ---
I would really like if people without proper degree would stop calling them engineers. I have sworn an oath, just as doctors. They say "do no harm", I said "protect safety and health of people". If you did not do this, you are not entitled to call yourself an engineer, it is unethical.

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I must have missed the memo on swearing an oath upon graduation with an MSEE. 

The thing is, my degree is in electronics (computer hardware design) and that is one of the disciplines of engineering that isn't licensed, or, in general, offered for sale to the public.  I could, I suppose, eventually wiggle my way into a PE in Electrical Engineering but there is usually some amount of indentured servitude required (4 years working under another PE) between the time you pass the Engineer-In-Training (EIT) exam and you apply for the PE exam.

The EIT exam highly favors Civil Engineers and electronics engineers are in for a lot of pre-exam study.  We just don't take the proper courses that would make the exam easier.  Yes, I passed it, way back in '76.

How about aerospace engineers?  Are the guys designing the Mars spaceship required to be licensed as some kind of engineer?  Probably not.

Notice in the list of exceptions that most corporations can hire people to do in-house engineering without requiring registration.  I suspect this is because the corporations have a ton of insurance.

It seems to me that if you graduate with a degree in engineering, you are an engineer.  Whether you can practice certain types of engineering involving public safety is another matter.  And this extends to calling yourself an engineer in a field that does require registration.

To the topic at hand:  Of course the state wants him to shut up.  If his calculations are accepted and the previous standards are truly incorrect, the state has considerable exposure.  Not only for excessive citations but possibly for turn lane accidents.  Fining him was not the best way to handle the problem.  Once it gets in the paper, all kinds of things come out of the woodwork.

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