Peer Review by local surveying chapters

Our local chapter does something similar to what you describe. It doesn't happen often, but a hand full of times over the years we have had complaints brought to the chapter. We gathered the data and filed a complaint.

The benefits to the process are two fold.

1. If the person reported is upset, they can be upset with everyone who attends the chapter meetings.
2. Our state requires a notarized complaint form. When the Chapter President signs as Chapter President, it carries more weight than a "normal" complaint. The board investigator knows they are dealing with several folks who have a pretty good idea of the rules and regulations.

Hope that helps.

Larry P

I'm pretty sure the Board does appreciate it. The Board in CA is bogged down with enforcement cases. In CA, we call these PPC, or Professional Practices Committees. My chapter's committee has both of the local county surveyors on the committee as advisory members and then 8 members from various types of practice (private, public, state, city, small company, large company, etc.). The PPC will take a complaint anonymously (if requested) and send letters to encourage compliance. If no rememdies are made, then the PPC will file a complaint to the Board, if necessary. There is no enforcement power, just suggestions on how to become compliant with state laws. The counties will also file with PPC if they see tagged monuments called out without references on maps being submitted for review. The LS number on the No Reference monument will usually get a letter in those cases, to provide proof they filed a RS or Corner Record, or to allow them to file an RS or CR to become compliant with the PLS Act.

I can pretty much echo Ryan's response as far as how the Board views involvement by the local Professional Practice Committees (PPC).

If the local peers can help to educate a licensee by promoting compliance with the applicable laws and regulations, everyone benefits including the public consumer. But it is very important to realize that as Ryan also pointed out, the PPC does not have any authority, enforcement power, etc. to force the licensee into compliance. And it is also important to note that local "standard of care" is not a valid consideration unless that standard meets or exceeds the state laws and regulations, which in essence is the absolute true minimum standard of care.

It is is process that has grown considerably over the last several years statewide and hopefully the California Land Surveyors Association (CLSA) will continue to encourage this action.

Ric Moore, PLS
Executive Officer
Board for Professional Engineers,
Land Surveyors, and Geologists.

The local chapter often has survey problems we discuss, not because of a complaint but because it is (usually) a great way to get feedback, bright ideas, or someone may have special knowledge. And, if a complaint is later filed we then can say we've had a peer review.

Thanks for your responses. We'll be talking about this at our chapter meeting this coming Thursday.

I do understand that local standard of care must be the same as or EXCEED the state minimum of care standard. That makes sense to me. But there are local "issues" that come up, such as the property owners in Harwich used to plow their lines, so don't hold the ridges, don't rely on E.P.Cook in your back title, etc.

I will let y'all know how this pans out.

Dtp

Don,

Here is the link to the various state CLSA committees:
http://www.californiasurveyors.org/committ.html

About half way down, you will see that Mr. Robert Reese is the Chair of the committee and also of the newly formed Monument Conservation Committee as well. I'm sure you can contact him for more information at the state level.

This is the link to the various chapters which may indicate separate chapter newsletters, web sites, etc. for contacts at the chapter level:

http://www.californiasurveyors.org/chapt.html

Hope this helps,
Ric

Thanks Ric, that's a ton of help!!