 |
 |
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. -- +-------------------------------------------+ | 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 | +-------------------------------------------+ >>> 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 >