Anthony Fasano, P.E. Executive Director of the New York State Society of Professional Engineers (NYSSPE) speaks with Mark Kris, Esq, NYSSPE legislative counsel. This is part of the NYSSPE legislative video series that will focus on helping our members and other licensed engineers keep up to date on the profession.
The topic of this video is Fingerprinting for Engineers, which is being considered during this legislative session. Fingerprinting has been talked about for health care professions where people may try assume a false identity to obtain drugs or take advantage of elderly people. However it could be carried to all of the licensed professions including engineering if legislation passes.Please watch the video above for details and we will keep you posted on this legislation.
Note: NYSSPE facilitates posting on this blog, but the views and accounts expressed herein are those of the author(s) and not the views or accounts of NYSSPE, its officers or directors whose views and accounts may or may not be similar or identical. NYSSPE, its officers and directors do not express any opinion regarding any product or service by virtue of reference to such product or service in this blog.
I oppose this. It is just more government intrusion into the lives of its citizens.
This is a good way to inform the engineering community about current issues.
Are politicians fingerprinted ?
I became licensed in 1971 and have never had an identification issue. While I believe we need to be goverened and the public needs some level of protection finger printing seems a bit much
I’m thinking of something I read about recently – from this past February – where two people posed as PEs in California.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/02/09/hundreds-california-homes-buildings-used-plans-drafted-by-2-phony-engineers-say-authorities.html
While it seems intrusive, and could open the door to other issues, I don’t think it’s unfair. The problem would be how to resolve an issue of a legitimate engineer’s fingerprints coming up in a government database.
Years ago, I had to be fingerprinted to join the public sector in NYC. My standpoint about it then — and currently — is that if you have nothing to hide, you should have nothing to worry about.
Better solutions, applicable to a particular profession, should be sought and utilized. It’s scary what could be next… leaving a trace of DNA?
Most PE’s were probably fingerprinted for the Licensing exam; so the prints are already on file should they for some reason be required.
Thank you for all of these points everyone, we will keep everyone posted.
I thought the use of a PE embossed seal and signature was supposed to secure a PE’s identity and assure that the work was actually performed by the PE. If so, why would we need any fingerprinting? This has worked well for decades. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!
Requiring fingerprinting for engineers is unnecessary and way ‘over the top’ in my opinion. The legislature can be making better use of its time such as managing and developing plans to upgrade our infra-structure. There is inordinate amount of time spent on security related issues which detracts from efforts to make tangible improvements to our world.