Oregon Man Fined $500 for ‘Unlawful’ Study That Found Yellow Stoplights Are Too Short

[Mister Cheese]

https://heatst.com/life/man-fined-50...lights-system/

An Oregon man has been fined $500 by the state government for suggesting that yellow traffic lights should last slightly longer.

The Oregon State Board of Examiners for Engineering and Land Surveying hit Mats Järlström with a fine for unlawfully engaging in the “practice of engineering” by studying the state’s traffic flow systems.

Järlström, a former mechanic in the Swedish military, was slapped with the absurd penalty because his work contravenes licensing regulations in the state, according to the Institute for Justice.

He started his investigation into traffic lights after his wife got a ticket for turning right on a yellow light back in 2013. He wanted to know “how how exactly yellow lights are timed.”

Järlström found out that the formula used in traffic lights was deficient, and invented his own one, while corresponding with one of the formula’s original creators.

He took his research and started reaching out to people in the scientific community, government authorities and the media.

His new formula ended up at the state’s Board of Examiners for Engineering and Land Surveying. But rather than appreciating his findings, the Board fined him $500 because he engaged in unlicensed “practice of engineering.”

According to the Board, Järlström had no right to criticize the length of yellow lights and talk about his ideas with “members of the public” because he’s not an Oregon-licensed engineer. The man was also told to stop referring himself using the word “engineer”, despite having a degree in electrical engineering from Sweden.

He is now suing the state of Oregon, claiming his traffic lights critique is protected by the First Amendment.

Want to criticize the government for giving you a traffic ticket? Tough shit. Pay $500. What a joke. I've always hated red light cameras.

[Ripster42]

I can't imagine he's going to lose his case. That board needs to be expunged.

[WskyDK]

Wasn't there a thread with this exact same video yesterday?

[Danuru]

I can't imagine he's going to lose his case. That board needs to be expunged.

Yeah, sounds to me like the Board is grasping at straws, personally. He's not really "practicing engineering," just saying stuff based off his observations.

[Destump]

I can't imagine he's going to lose his case. That board needs to be expunged.

The board should be in prison, honestly.

[Deleted]

Land of the free

[Independent voter]

We should have a pit match between Florida man and Oregon man.

[Stormspark]

Land of the free

But it's not free, it costs $500!

[Crissi]

Yep, older thread here: http://www.mmo-champion.com/threads/...ghlight=Oregon

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