Surviving legal challenges and political challenges are different. I do not see what is illegal about this law. We regulate many other professions, why not computer technicians. However, from a practical matter, and as you say political matter, I do not see this law lasting very long. It will either be unenforced, or removed as law by the legislature.
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| Michael Surato |
| College of Arts and Letters |
| Michigan State University |
| 320 Linton Hall |
| East Lansing, MI 48824 |
| Voice: (517) 353-0778 Fax: (517) 355-0159 |
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>>> On 7/2/2008 at 1:10 PM, MSU Network Administrators Group wrote:
> I kid you not,
> http://www.ij.org/first_amendment/tx_computer_repair/6_26_08pr.html <http://www.ij.org/first_amendment/tx_computer_repair/6_26_08pr.html>
From what I've
> read, the Texas law enacted in 2007 places fines and criminal penalties for
> anyone working on a computer who conducts "and investigation" on that
> computer without a valid Private Investigator's license. Their
> definition of what constittutes an investigation is so broad that common
> diagnostic tasks could fall into the definition of an investigation. Not only is the repair technician subject to fines and criminal
> penalties, but the computer OWNER is also subject to the same charges for
> knowingly using an unlicensed technician.
>
There is at least one group
> challenging the law in court, so it will be interesting to see what comes of this in the long run. Considering the EDS has offices and a major call center in Plano, Texas, and that they do
> phone support for PC issues to many of their Fortune 100 customers, I don't
> expect this law to survive a legal challenge. But, that's just my
> opinion, I've been wrong before.
>
>
> John A. Resotko
Head of Systems Administration
Michigan
> State University College of Law
208 Law College Building
> East Lansing, MI 48824-1300
email: [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
>
Phone: 517-432-6836
Fax: 517-432-6861
>
Current Chairperson of
> the
MSU Network Communications Community
>
|