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N.C. Official Sics License Police On Computer Scientist For Too Good a Complaint
snsh writes "When a computer scientist in North Carolina petitioned the state for a new traffic signal in his neighborhood, a transportation official replied with a complaint about what 'appears to be engineering-level work' done by someone who is not licensed as a professional engineer." Kevin Lacy, chief traffic engineer for the state DOT, and the one who filed a complaint with the N.C. Board of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors, protested that in trying to have Computer Scientist David Cox investigated for his detailed complaint about a traffic intersection while not licensed as a professional engineer, "I'm not trying to hush him up."
I wouldn't be surprised if they asked lots of engineers until they found one who said stop lights were not needed, then hired him. Selective hireing of experts isn't an unusual practice. It's very common in legal matters - whenever you see the words 'expert witness' then this may well have gone on first. Same for experts appearing on TV. The producers ask lots of experts, then just hire the ones with the most ratings-inspiring opinions to share.
Thats just NC. The level of lazy around here would shock you.
These are 'good ol boys' you need to talk to them in a certain way. If you come off as a smart ass 'city slicker' they will shut you down FAST and ignore you. Also a quick google maps thru the neighborhood it seems like a nice place. Trust me they see these dudes as a bunch of rich whiny bitches (think 400k+ houses on 1 acre lots). I am not saying that is what they are but the blue collar dudes that work in NCDOT see it that way.
At this point a suing is probably in order. They went about it as if the NCDOT had no say in it probably came off as bullies. I have seen many neighborhoods like that here in NC. They seem genuinely shocked when acting like a jerk gets people acting the same way.
Also looking thru the google maps they are probably right and a couple of lights are needed.
The *RIGHT* way at being shut down like this in NC is to grab your local NC senate critter and get them to have it put in. Small donation of 2k would and it would be done by the end of the month. That is the way it works. It shouldnt be that way but it is.
Typical NC bureaucracy in action. Both the DOT and the licensing board. All five of my professional licenses are issued and "supervised" by idiots who can't do the work themselves and make a living, and and the work I do under three of them are subject to review and oversight by morons who are either political hires or failed contractors with political connections. Perfect case in point. Greensboro is in Guilford county. The county has an inspection department for refrigeration work done in the county, while the city has an inspections department for refrigeration work done in the city. Both departments use the state building codes, with no amendments or other crap. What the code says is what the county/city codes are. If I install two identical walk-in coolers, one in Guilford county, and the other one 20 feet over the line and in Greensboro, and install them both in the same exact manner, one will fail. In Guilford county if the inspector sees any silicone caulk around the camlock covers (little things that look like smooth metal buttons on the walls and ceilings of walk-ins that cover where the camlock holes are at) he will fail it. Conversely, if a Greensboro city inspector, using the same state codes, does not see the caulk, he will fail it. The Electrical inspectors are the same, yet worse, as each one as their own personal likes and dislikes, and you do it their way or get failed. And if I should protest something and submit documents that I drew using standard architectural or engineering symbols, nicely plotted with all "projections" and such calculated correctly, am I going to be investigated also? Fucktard politicians now want to allow failass bureaucrats to stamp out smart people. Or hell, just plain competent people.
I do understand it.
Disclaimer: I am currently employed by a Government entity. I worked in the privet sector for 22 year prior to that.
I have not, nor have I ever seen any government official 'retaliate'. And yes, I would call them on it.
Yes, it was probably a dick move.
However, I have seen many times where educated, smart peple try to force what are evffectivly engineered decsion down a cities throat without actually have engineering experience. They fail to take into account many extremely important details, and they speak well enough that the general public thinks they are right. Instead of learnign WHY something is being done the way it is, they just dig their heals in and make absurd arguments. And by absurd I mean provably wrong, But they don't look at the numbers, or try to understand the impact on the myriad of things under the street.
It's sad. Now I am not saying they should have a say, but they need to be rational about it.
Now, if the Computer scientist was trying to push the document and an engineered solution, then yes, he is in the wrong.
You do not want non licensed Engineers doing engineering work. Bad things will come of it.
I wish there was a PE equivalent for Computer programming in my state. well, in all states, really.
The Kruger Dunning explains most post on