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The dangers of unlicensed engineering

newsobserver.com

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Re: The dangers of unlicensed engineering

#2

  > He said there is a potential for violation if DOT
  > and the public were misled by "engineering-quality
  > work"- even if the authors did not claim to be
  > engineers.
Isn't this essentially saying that you can be too smart/thorough for your own good, and that the government is going to punish you for not getting a license to use your abilities? What the hell is 'engineering-quality work' anyways? Talk about an amorphous term...

Re: The dangers of unlicensed engineering

#3
The title of this post is inaccurate. The article is discussing how someone (who is not an engineer) provided "engineering-quality work" which could mislead the DOT and the public that it was done by an engineer.

If anything, this article is highlighting how licensing is more often used to protect a select few rather than showing the "dangers of unlicensed engineering."

Re: The dangers of unlicensed engineering

#4
post #3

The title of this post is inaccurate. The article is discussing how someone (who is not an engineer) provided "engineering-quality work" which could mislead the DOT and the public that it was done by an engineer. If anything, this article is highlighting how licensing is more often used to protect a select few rather than showing the "dangers of unlicensed engineering."

Considering the forum, I think that the title is sarcasm.

Re: The dangers of unlicensed engineering

#5
post #2

> He said there is a potential for violation if DOT > and the public were misled by "engineering-quality > work"- even if the authors did not claim to be > engineers. Isn't this essentially saying that you can be too smart/thorough for your own good, and that the government is going to punish you for not getting a license to use your abilities? What the hell is 'engineering-quality work' anyways? Talk about an amorph…

I think it is in reference to:

"When you start applying the principles for trip generation and route assignment, applying judgments from engineering documents and national standards, and making recommendations," that's technical work a licensed engineer would do, Lacy said.

Re: The dangers of unlicensed engineering

#6
post #2

> He said there is a potential for violation if DOT > and the public were misled by "engineering-quality > work"- even if the authors did not claim to be > engineers. Isn't this essentially saying that you can be too smart/thorough for your own good, and that the government is going to punish you for not getting a license to use your abilities? What the hell is 'engineering-quality work' anyways? Talk about an amorph…

This is sounding a lot like a profession making it illegal for others to do anything that could decrease their own income.

Re: The dangers of unlicensed engineering

#7
post #2

> He said there is a potential for violation if DOT > and the public were misled by "engineering-quality > work"- even if the authors did not claim to be > engineers. Isn't this essentially saying that you can be too smart/thorough for your own good, and that the government is going to punish you for not getting a license to use your abilities? What the hell is 'engineering-quality work' anyways? Talk about an amorph…

You're refuting the weakest possible interpretation of his statement. "This" is essentially saying, that it is possible to mislead the public by producing work that has some of the qualities of engineering work, but is not actual engineerng work. The alleged violator clearly started with the conclusion, and put together some official looking research to support it ... one of the many things you learn not to do in engineering school.

Re: The dangers of unlicensed engineering

#9
post #5
post #2

> He said there is a potential for violation if DOT > and the public were misled by "engineering-quality > work"- even if the authors did not claim to be > engineers. Isn't this essentially saying that you can be too smart/thorough for your own good, and that the government is going to punish you for not getting a license to use your abilities? What the hell is 'engineering-quality work' anyways? Talk about an amorph…

I think it is in reference to: "When you start applying the principles for trip generation and route assignment, applying judgments from engineering documents and national standards, and making recommendations," that's technical work a licensed engineer would do, Lacy said.

Given that I first read the terms "trip generation" and "route assignment" when I was in high school, and in reference to SimCity, I think we can safely assume that the problem is actually the recommendation.

There's some legal precedent* in blocking unlicensed people from making recommendations, notably pertaining to legal advice given by people who are not members of the bar association. On the other hand, Will Wright could clearly not be held liable if some loony city planner tested his designs out in SimCity. Also, individuals are generally permitted to represent their own interests with legal argumentation, and this guy is apparently someone with an interest.

* -- Ironic though it is given the subject matter, I am not a lawyer, this is not legal advice.

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