Tire Engineers 3

[HamburgerHelper]

I thought this was a laugh but a tire shop here, "Tire Engineers", in Houston,TX got fined $5,000 by the Texas Board of Engineers.

Tire Engineers; Case Number B–35363
Violation: From on or about June 17, 2014, and continuing to the present day, Tire Engineers operated stores located at 3801 FM 1092, Missouri City, Texas, 77459 and 12807 FM 1960 Road West, Houston, Texas 77065, that displayed signage that included the phrase "Tire Engineers." Tire Engineers offered to perform engineering services and represented to the public it was capable of engaging in the practice of engineering.
Act/Rule Violated: Tex. Occ. Code §1001.405(e) and 22 TAC §137.71(1).
Resolution: Cease & Desist Order & Administrative Penalty of $5,000.00

 

[MacGyverS2000]

I always wondered... who collects the fine, and under what legal authority?

Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

 

[TehMightyEngineer]

I'm usually in agreement with decisions like this when you have people holding themselves out as computer engineers or broadcast engineers where they have a technical job but don't have formal licensing requirements and such. While it's probably a little pedantic I can easily see it being taken too far where a plumber calls themselves a wastewater engineer or an electrician calling themselves an electrical engineer (or having similarly titled companies) and I agree with drawing a conservative line.

However, this seems too extreme. While the name is a little annoying to the engineering profession I doubt anyone in their right mind would confuse them for a business providing professional engineering services. I think this is no worse than "Rug Doctor" where it's clearly distinguished from the licensed profession.

Professional and Structural Engineer (ME, NH, MA)
American Concrete Industries

http://www.americanconcrete.com

 

[HamburgerHelper]

Your Rug Doctor comment reminds me of a Mitch Hedberg joke:

Dr. Scholl is a doctor, which means he spent nine years in med school. That man wasted his time. It took him nine years to learn that cushions make shoes comfortable. I would have bought that shit from a Mr. Scholl. Maybe even a Senor Scholl.

 

[1gibson]

I can easily see a tire sales associate using the engineering angle to explain why an old lady needs the more expensive tires. Might have even looked up the vehicle weight and sketched out some diagrams and "calculations" right then and there.

 

[Ron]

Sorry guys, but this is something that seriously degrades the practice of engineering. For someone who uses the term "engineer" it implies they have an expertise that the general public does not possess. That puts them above others who might hold themselves out as "mechanics" or other tradesmen. I don't mean that to take anything away from the "mechanics" or "technicians" of the world, just that the term "engineer" is supposed to mean something more.

The public perceives that engineers are smarter than the average bear. That's great for those who suffered through engineering school and EARNED a degree in engineering. Not so for the guy who calls himself an engineer just because it sounds cool and implies he's "purty smart".

Such laws are in place for a reason. It is purely to protect the practice of engineering as it applies to the protection of the health, safety and welfare of the public. It should serve this purpose. When someone uses the term "Weather Engineers", "Air Engineers" or similar, it is in an effort to fool the public into thinking they have more expertise than they actually have.

Don't let it happen. It is the one thing that promotes a degradation of the profession and lowers the pay of every legitimate engineer.

The Texas Board was exactly right and I applaud their protection of our profession.

 

[hokie66]

Like Dan, I wonder about the authority of the Texas Board of Engineers to fine a business which is not an engineering business, and doesn't claim to be. It just uses the word "engineer", similar to the use to describe a train driver. Maybe it is just the part of my life spent in Australia, where "XYZ Engineering" is likely to be a welding shop.

 

[Ingenuity]

Originally from Australia, with the past 25 years spent in the US I share hokie66 perspective, especially the steel fab/welding shop name comment.

I have witnessed US state Attorneys General office issue "cease and desist" letters to said companies outlining their naming infringements and indicating that failure to comply will result in fines and legal actions.

IMO, North Americans get pretty hung up on titles and status. I recall first seeing a parking space in the US saying "Reserved for Employee of the Month" and laughed out loud in disbelief. But, I also refer to doctors and dentists by first name, when introduced to me as Dr., so this stuff to me is just amusing

 

[IRstuff]

hokie66, if you read the cited regulations, the PE board has the authority to sanction anyone who even uses "engineer" or "engineering" in the business name. Other states, like CA, are not as strict, by only limiting the usage of "[discipline] engineer" and its applicability specifically to stamping of plans.

TTFN
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert!
faq731-376 forum1529

 

[TehMightyEngineer]

hokie: It may vary by state. I called a state board about a much more egregious company which was actually holding themselves out as providing engineering. The state board told me that since nobody was licensed at the company I should contact the attorney general's office.

Professional and Structural Engineer (ME, NH, MA)
American Concrete Industries

http://www.americanconcrete.com

 

[cranky108]

Would this be the same as false advertising? Are there any reasons that the state can't bring this to court? They should feel lucky there were no additional charges brought.

Would anyone actually believe a 'Rug Doctor' machine could do anything besides clean your rug?

Or even 'Dr Pepper' would be anything except a sugary drink.

 

[ornerynorsk]

What about manufacturers who use the word "engineering" in their company name, and have no engineers employed, nor do they contract for any engineering services in the design and verification/validation of their products? Wouldn't this be the same scenario? I can cite multiple examples of companies that I personally know of that have "engineering" in their legally registered corporate name and neither have engineers employed nor use any outside services.

It is better to have enough ideas for some of them to be wrong, than to be always right by having no ideas at all.

 

[SLTA]

The whole "Rug Doctor" vs using "engineer" when you're not is apples to oranges. First, rugs aren't alive, so clearly they don't actually need doctors. Same with Dr. Pepper. I would sure hope that nobody would be stupid enough to think that they are ACTUALLY doctors. Companies or people labeling themselves as "engineers" when they aren't don't have a stupidly-obvious differentiation like that, and can then easily take people in, either maliciously or not.

Please remember: we're not all guys!

 

[IRstuff]

"What about manufacturers who use the word "engineering" in their company name"

Texas does have a industrial exemption

TTFN
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert!
faq731-376 forum1529

 

[MacGyverS2000]

hokie66, if you read the cited regulations, the PE board has the authority to sanction anyone who even uses "engineer" or "engineering" in the business name.

But sanction how? The board itself isn't going to collect the fee. If you were an actual P.E. I can see the threat being more realistic as you'd be afraid of losing your license, and therefore your ability to practice engineering. But for someone who isn't an engineer in the first place and is spending all day installing tires? I imagine they couldn't give a flip. I need someone to tell (and prove to) me the board gets a REAL legal authority in the mix and the action is enforced (like a lien on the business, or jail time for an individual). Otherwise, it's fluff.

Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

 

[monkeydog]

The Tire Engineers in the great states of Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia should have a bone to pick with the neerdowells in Texas, since they have "rights" to the name "Tire Engineers".

http://www.tireengineers.com/

 

[hokie66]

In view of the numerous examples discussed on this site of buildings falling down all over Texas in recent times, I think the Texas Board should involve itself in more important issues than this. What next...will a baker be fined for labelling itself "Cupcake Engineers"? Maybe the Architecture Board is less precious, and the baker could be a "Cupcake Architect".

 

[cranky108]

I think the key here might be public safety. I don't see how a "Cupcake Engineer" would involve safety. Unless the Cupcakes were intended to be thrown and not eaten.

 

[KENAT]

What if the "Cupcake Engineer" was a frustrated chemical engineer and was getting creative with the flavorings/fillings of his cup cakes?

Posting guidelines faq731-376

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

(probably not aimed specifically at you)
What is Engineering anyway: faq1088-1484​

 

[BamaStructural]

The Alabama BELS actually weighed in on this in 2014. They allowed the company to continue to use the name "Tire Engineers".

"The Board discussed the status of two firms who have "Engineering" in their titles. It was confirmed
that the original exemption for Tire Engineers would continue even though they have been bought out
by Express Oil Change. It was also agreed that the title Express Oil Change/Tire Engineers does not
tend to convey the impression that the firm or individuals are professional engineers or that the firm is offering engineering. The Board disapproved the request from Life Safety Engineers to be allowed to
practice in Alabama without an engineering Certificate of Authorization. The title "Life Safety
Engineers" could give the impression that the firm was offering and performing engineering."
-Alabama BELS Meeting Minutes October 29, 2014