Red Mosquito

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.

The state fined him $500 for violating a state law that governs who may call themselves an engineer, finding he wasn’t an Oregon-registered professional engineer.

Last year, the state board conceded in court it violated Jarlstrom’s free speech rights and pledged it would not pursue the Beaverton man any further when he's not acting in a commercial or professional manner and urged a federal judge to dismiss the case. The state also refunded its $500 fine against Jarlstrom.

The Beaverton man and his lawyer countered that the state's proposed settlement didn’t go far enough.

Järlström, backed by a lawyer from the national Institute for Justice, asked the court to take a broader look at the state law and its administrative rules and declare them unconstitutional. In the alternative, the state law should be restricted to only regulating engineering communications that are made as part of paid employment or a contractual agreement, his lawyers argued.


Beckerman ruled that the state’s definition of an “engineer’’ is overbroad, and cited the state board’s “history of overzealous enforcement actions.’’

She directed the state to remove the definition of "engineer,'' from its state law and administrative rules, and simply restrict who can consider themselves a “professional engineer,” or a “registered professional engineer.”

BurtReynolds wrote:Tis a silly place.

McParadigm wrote:If you read the linked filing, they told him they didn’t have jurisdiction over the thing he was writing to them about and notified him that under state law he could be fined for calling himself an engineer without first being licensed and registered. They even gave him copies of the relevant documents that would help him know what he needed to do to obtain a license.

He responded that he would no longer claim to be an engineer, and then turned around and did it again (and again) almost immediately, while trying to get various organizations (including 60 Minutes) to respond to him.

He was literally told the first time that he was risking a fine with his action, and did it again knowing that to be the case. Shrug emoji.

McParadigm wrote:“The law I was previously notified about is stupid so I shouldn’t have been expected to adhere to it” is baby talk. He didn’t improve his chances of being heard by writing (and I quote) “And yes, I’m an excellent engineer.”

BurtReynolds wrote:

McParadigm wrote:“The law I was previously notified about is stupid so I shouldn’t have been expected to adhere to it” is baby talk. He didn’t improve his chances of being heard by writing (and I quote) “And yes, I’m an excellent engineer.”

"Civil disobedience? Don't you know there is a law against that?"

McParadigm wrote:

BurtReynolds wrote:

McParadigm wrote:“The law I was previously notified about is stupid so I shouldn’t have been expected to adhere to it” is baby talk. He didn’t improve his chances of being heard by writing (and I quote) “And yes, I’m an excellent engineer.”

"Civil disobedience? Don't you know there is a law against that?"

You’re going to give yourself a stroke over these petty outrages.

And yes, I’m an excellent doctor.

E.H. Ruddock wrote:Lol. "Left on a stretcher"

https://www-m.cnn.com/2019/01/04/us/wom ... cnn.com%2F

BurtReynolds wrote:

E.H. Ruddock wrote:Lol. "Left on a stretcher"

https://www-m.cnn.com/2019/01/04/us/wom ... cnn.com%2F

The kidnapper seemed very determined.