Iron rod set - yea right

>
> I should turn them all into the board, but I wont.
>

No? Why not?

I would call the surveyor and let them know that none of the corners indicated on the map were set. Perhaps his crew was at the bar instead of working, or this was one of those jobs that slipped through the cracks.

In other words give them the opportunity to make it right, even if it's on their personal time.

Randy,

I've done the same thing several times. I understand your sentiment about not turning them into the board. While it seems like a no brainer, it can turn into a time consuming mess around here.

All the documentation, files and time required to "prove" that some jerk just flat lied is a lot more difficult than setting your own pins properly and biting your tongue. I didn't say it was right, just easier.

The last time I actually contacted the board concerning a fraudulent survey was in 2007. The offender eventually (18 months) got a slap on the wrist and a $1000 fine. I spent more time than that collecting copies and meeting with the board. It is truly a frustrating affair.

I do, however, enjoy calling the jerks and telling them what I think of them and their work. I get some sort of childish gratification from doing that. Like I said; Is it right? Not at all.

> I should turn them all into the board, but I wont.
>
I'd say do it, except the last three or four crap surveys I've followed I haven't turned anyone in. Didn't set rods, set rods within tenths of the original, retraced a subdivision and it didn't look like the plat, etc. For one, I don't really have any faith in the board. For two, if I ever need a copy of their work, (so I can straighten it out), I'd like to maintain some coopoerative relationship with them.

Do contact the other surveyor and bring him into the loop of the problem you found with his survey.

I've known good surveyors done wrong by their field crews and vice verse.

Giving them that "Hey Dude what were you thinking" enough times from many surveyors may rattle around in their skull until it finds some grey matter.

The BOR is approximately 2yrs backlogged.

B-)

One of the surveys was a 30 acre platted lot originally platted in 1960. This Survey was done in 2008 by (I am so tempted to say his name), according to his RPLS No. he was registered in 2007.

He called for the 3 iron rods to be found in the rear and said he set the 6 in the center of the easement on the front.

All bearings and distances were identical to the 50 year old plat, I mean to the nearest minute just like the plat.

He just Jumped out of the truck and pulled a cloth tape around and found a few things and bailed, made his plat and got paid his $650 bucks. Owner gave me a copy of the Invoice. Now they are wondering why it is costing 5 times that much.

Problem is that the found pins in the rear do not match the plat by 2 feet and the fence he calls on the north line meanders as much as 7 feet and he did not find any of the easement pins like we did.

Rough rough terrain, my crew spent the entire day out there gathering data and will be going back to set the set pins and tie in the improvements that were not there in 2008.

Really considering changing my mind on the board thing, but Paden is right, its just not worth it in time spent.

I raise my hand and say I have a few pins that I called set over the years, but I have been gradually working on them. One is going to take about 2 days of line cutting to just get there and the owner knows about that one. But one day soon, the crew is going to hate me.

Randy

Maybe not my place to say but if nobody ever dropped a hammer on this kind of BS, just exactly how are we suppose to be serving and protecting the public and from whom? This type of activity gives the profession a black eye and to tolerate it is to passively condone it.

There. I feel better. Carry on.

Contact the surveyor then turn him into the board if there is no response. If we don't protect our profession, no one will. There is always long hall truck driving for those that need to put bread on the table. Don't prostitute out Land Surveying for your short term gain. My 2 cents, Jp

Of course it's your place Williwaw. I like the pushback, but I'll do a little gentle pushing back myself. What obligation do I have to protect the public and on what authority do I protect the public. I never swore an oath when I obtained my license. I'm obligated to perform my work to a minimum standard of competence in service to the public. But protection? meh.

Sitting on two of these right now- smallish titles done here in town by a company from Dallas. My favorite is the one that calls founds along the street (and holds them for bearing)- no way, Jose. They ain't there, weren't there, and if you'd bothered to wander across the street 50' you woulda found 2 TxDOT monuments that make it clear you couldn't hold them in the first place. Client doesn't care much that I'm billing him for an extra day of tying down essentially the whole block, he's with us in multiple projects and understands how it goes- and now has a good lesson on getting what you pay for.

Best part is the company's name and website- average joe would think they hung the moon. Average surveyor would see it for the utter b.s. It is.

In my mind, the client that received the fraudulent survey bears primary responsibility in pursuing action against the negligent surveyor. I'm not saying it is not part of your duty as a professional to report gross negligence to the board, but the client was the one harmed.

The client should pay for the second survey and request that Surveyor B separate out the additional costs of attempting to follow the fraudulent survey performed by Surveyor A. Surveyor B could prepare a statement which documents their effort to validate Surveyor A's work.

I would then send a certified letter to Surveyor A requesting compensation for the full amount of the original survey + damages caused (portion of second survey) + any damages incurred by relying on the fraudulent survey. I would let them know that I was serious about pursuing other avenues, should they fail to provide immediate relief.

If they refuse, I would file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau, as well as the licensing board, then start the small claims court process. I would make sure they made the trip back across the state, even if it was to attend court.

There are other ways for deceptive people to make a living, other than surveying.
There are also existing legal ways for the public to protect themselves.

That's the BOR's job.

From my Standards of Practice manual. 'A Surveyor's Creed'

As a Professional Land Surveyor, I dedicate my knowledge and skill to the advancement of human welfare and to all mankind, I pledge:

To be impartial and honest, serving with dignity and dedication, and offering the utmost in performance.

To live and work according to the laws of the State of Alaska and the highest standards of professional conduct, protecting the public against fraud, or unethical practices in the Surveying Profession.

To place service before profit, the honor and standing of the profession before personal advantage, and the public's welfare above all other considerations.

And with humility and Divine Guidance, protect the land imbedded in my trust.

Adopted from Florida Surveyor's Creed.

Granted that it's not codified into law but from what your saying I guess it's just a bunch of 'feel good' malarkey.

> That's the BOR's job.
>
> From my Standards of Practice manual. 'A Surveyor's Creed'
>
> As a Professional Land Surveyor, I dedicate my knowledge and skill to the advancement of human welfare and to all mankind, I pledge:
>
> To be impartial and honest, serving with dignity and dedication, and offering the utmost in performance.
>
> To live and work according to the laws of the State of Alaska and the highest standards of professional conduct, protecting the public against fraud, or unethical practices in the Surveying Profession.
>
> To place service before profit, the honor and standing of the profession before personal advantage, and the public's welfare above all other considerations.
>
> And with humility and Divine Guidance, protect the land imbedded in my trust.
>
> Adopted from Florida Surveyor's Creed.
>
> Granted that it's not codified into law but from what your saying I guess it's just a bunch of 'feel good' malarkey.

I like that, Williwaw. I suppose I'm suffering a crisis of conflict regarding idealism and pragmatism. I like idealism, and Lord knows the world needs it. Pragmatically, I know that I can really only control my own actions. Setting those irons that I said I set. Doing the research. Digging the holes. Checking the closures... I'm not perfect, but I strive to be excellent. I do this in a sea of mediocrity it seems. I would not call that malarkey, but I do question if I'm under any obligation to uphold those standards.

We can only set the bar as low as we're willing to stoop Shawn. I best finish this drawing before they find another surveyor less idealistic than myself. 😉

Are you talking about Precise?

You said it, not me.;-)

I worked there for two days before I decided my manner of practice was incompatible with their business practices. I don't currently work in the same field, but I have seen past surveys that I would like to scrutinize more thoroughly before deciding whether to submit to the board.

I, for the life of me, can't figure out how a Dallas company can be competitive cost-wise on jobs 200+ miles away, let alone lowball them. But explains the quality- drop a couple capless rods near fence posts, make one tie that suggests legitimacy, then kick out a survey full of record bearings and Ds- on a subdivision platted 60 years ago.

I advise my crews when they find some companies' caps to keep searching for the real corner.

I'm not sure how many crews they are running right now but they only have one RPLS listed with the TBPLS. I can imagine he has a case of carpal tunnel if he is the only one signing plats.