Genius engineer overturns wife’s red light traffic fine using science and maths – and is then fined himself
After challenging his wife's red-light fine in Oregon, this engineer was slapped with an unusual sanction. But he took the case to court and the savvy motorist proved he had a right to complain and got his money back
A SAVVY motorist who used maths and science to challenge red light traffic cameras has convinced a court to have his £370 fine overturned.
Swedish-born engineer Mats Jarlstrom was slapped with the fine after he used his mathematical knowledge to prove that the traffic lights in the US state of Oregon had inconsistent timing, and that drivers were being unfairly targeted by cameras.
Jarlstrom's research was ignited in 2013 after his wife was fined for running a red light, according to .
He then started investigating the timings of yellow traffic lights around the state, and found that the time given to drivers when lights changed was too short.
And while it appears that the state simply wanted to punish the engineer for challenging their traffic tactics, the official reason for the fine was rather bizarre.
When he presented the findings to city officials and police, he was nabbed under the state law for identifying himself as an "engineer" in his emails.
Jarlstrom was officially fined for calling himself an "engineer" and practising engineering, which under Oregon state law is banned unless you are an Oregon-licensed professional.
Despite holding a bachelor of science degree in environmental and civil engineering and a master's degree from MIT School of Civil Engineering, Jarlstrom is not registered with the state and is currently self-employed.
Know your road laws
But after taking the fine to court, the former Air Force mechanic managed to prove that his freedom of speech had been breached and that using maths certainly wasn't illegal, resulting in a full refund.
The court found the engineer's First Amendment right to criticise the government had been unlawfully challenged.
Jarlstrom is now lobbying to have the law overturned, and to have the government further investigate traffic light timings.