Is this what denying a scientist's right to free speech by the State is going to look like now?

An engineer studied traffic light patterns and did a report independently because he felt the local standards could be upgraded. He spoke to the local press and presented a paper at a conference. The State of Oregon fined him $500 and has barred him from calling himself an engineer, despite his BSc in electronic engineering. He didn’t touch anything or adjust anything. He didn’t trespass. Was he fined for observing a situation, doing some math and then talking about his conclusions? Essentially, for doing science?
Here is the article: https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20170425/14273237238/guy-fined-500-criticizing-government-without-permit-sues-oregon-licensing-board.shtml
Do you consider this a restriction of his free speech? Do you think the State of Oregon was justified? Do you think this is a restriction of a scientist’s right to work?