- In Texas you have to be a licensed Private Detective to repair computers. And any consumer using anyone other than a licensed PI to fix his or her computer can be thrown in jail.
- Firefox users more secure on the Internet.
- Microsoft beginning to rent software starting in mid-July.
- Rhapsody going to put a dent in iTunes.
- Mac OS-X surges 32-percent.
- Microsoft officially retires XP.
- Say it’s not so: Micro-hoo back in play?
- Feds looking into Google-Yahoo deal.
- HP rolling out a $599 hotrod computer.
- Meanwhile, Dell buying back stock for personal account.
- Netgear doing an Open Source Router.
Under the new law enacted in 2007, Texas has put computer repair shops on notice that they had better watch their backs any time they work on a computer. If a computer repair technician without a government-issued private investigator’s license takes any actions that the government deems to be an “investigation,” they may be subject to criminal penalties of up to one year in jail and a $4,000 fine, as well as civil penalties of up to $10,000. The definition of “investigation” is very broad and encompasses many common computer repair tasks.
To get a private investigator’s license, owners of computer repair shops would have to close their business while they either obtained a criminal justice degree or completed a three-year apprenticeship under a licensed P.I.
Regarding Texas law re computer repairs/investigations: I could see this if it was a government computer?==but even then it should be the governments obligation to select the right repair shop?
You say “The definition of “investigation” is very broad and encompasses many common computer repair tasks.”===like what?
Something is missing, or–a special interest legislation as the Geek Squad is grandfathered in?
They have a similar deal here in Oregon… the computer repair shops are given (forced to pay a security deposit)a device to plug into computers… and basically it scans the harddrives for whatever “the authorities” are looking for… When its done, you log into a website and upload the info to them. Its not a law, (yet) but its highly frowned upon not to use one.
Neat huh?
#2–Raff==no shit? A warrantless fishing trip? Hard to believe. We should get Obama right on this. Oh wait. He just flipped on the US Constitution. Change you can believe in.
Raff: Are all computers scanned, or only specific ones? Do the authorities have to have a warrant or is this indiscriminate? I’m shocked.
When the people passing laws don’t know jack about what they are passing the laws to control what do you expect? Stupid laws passed by ignorant people.
Can you still fix your own computer?
Land of the free … for how long?
Maybe USA people are overdue for another nation-wide disregard of stupid laws, like the prohibition of the 30s or the draft-dodging of the 60s.
@#1: “You say “The definition of “investigation” is very broad and encompasses many common computer repair tasks.”===like what?”
Like virus scan. Like examining registry entries. Like checking what programs are installed. Like checking state of (likely) Windows updates…
#3-4
Its for real, anything that comes in the shop gets plugged in. There’s a two day training course on how to use it… its indiscriminate.
I’ll see if I can dig anything up on it.
Here’s something similar for Hawaii…
http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2004/Feb/05/ln/ln01a.html
Its a bit more on the downlow out here…
Why are the liberals on this site opposed to this? They invented all sorts of unnecessary regulations and licensing programs, but now you complain about this one?
MikeN –
Texas is a Republican state. The law was passed by a Republican administration.
Please don’t try to twist things around like that, it is really a cheap shot that even you know is too stoopid to be credible, specially when legislation like this is ALWAYS opposed by the Democratic party. First amendment rights, privacy rights, freedom of religion, freedom of choice, etc are primary Democratic tenets. Mandatory Voter-ID, warrantless surveilance, registration for everything except guns, limits on freedom of speech, christian based values, are all Republican principles.
Can someone point to the passage in the law that actually states this?
I’ve just read through it twice and either I am tired and need to go to bed or it’s not in there.
Oh you got me! Liberals are the party of deregulation and less licensing!
Texas is mistaken. If fixing someone’s property that they’ve brought to you can be considered an investigation, then auto mechanics are in a LOT of trouble.
They do, after all, investigate under the hood.
MikeN –
I knew that you would see it my way. It takes a big man to admit that you were wrong… congratulations.
Yes, the Democratic party is the Party of deregulation, if you are talking about deregulating personal speech, personal choice, personal freedoms. And that is what counts. Freedom to breathe cleaner air on cleaner land, freedom to express our views without worrying about censorship, freedom to live where and how we want to live. Freedom from being exploited by large corporations by regulating the behavior of business and placing people first, freedom from worry about financial ruin due to medical problems, freedom to demand accountability from those that are supposed to represent us, freedom to move up in life regardless of race or gender or economic background.
Conservative governments offer none of the above… on the contrary, they offer the opposite. They may pretend to offer ‘freedom’, but the results are always the same… control of the many by the few.
Compare our candidates: on the one side we have a son of a mixed-race marriage, growing up fatherless, putting himself through school, working in the community for the betterment of the community, loyally married to only one person for many years. On the other side, we have a privileged son and grandson of admirals, who became a pilot only due to his family ties, who dumped/divorced his disabled first wife and married into money one month later, and who despite years and years as a senator has virtually nothing to show as an accomplishment during that time.
So it’s illegal in Texas to work on a PC without a PI licence, or even do it yourself (or have a friend do it?), without a PI licence? Punishing both client and vendor? While it’s NOT illegal in Texas to hire illegal aliens to work for you, or to be an illegal alien working in Texas. They’ll just send the illegals south of the border. And the hirers gets no punishment, right? Just don’t touch a bloody PC, or it’s curtains! Is this more of Dick Chaney’s domestic spying policy? Or are they simply trying to protect major corporate types’ butts, from getting their illegal activities found out by the general public? Got to protect those current Kenneth Lays of Texas big business.
Microsoft retires XP. Because Vista is sooooooo much better, and everybody wants Vista not XP. So how come XP Home Ed. (complete) sold at $199 up until its final day? Never experiencing the price drop that Vista OS did? XP being more costlier than Vista, most recently. Now that XP is off the shelves, you can bet Vista’s price will return to its pre-reduction prices. Why can’t Microsoft support two OS for PCes. It had 98 and 2000 for years. Now, suddenly only Vista can be sold? The PC users can’t have any choice but Microsoft’s? Get use to the bloated UI and stringent DRM bottleneck. When my XP machine craps out, I’ll be going to Linux or a Mac.
continuing to sell xp licenses seems like a no brainer. i’d say $10 is fair to make any given pirated version of xp legal.
but to not sell it anymore reeks of mistrust within the company..
#13 – Lyin’ Mike
>>Oh you got me! Liberals are the party
>>of deregulation and less licensing!
Fuckin’ A right!
This warrantless snooping in people’s private shit is right up Dumbya’s alley.
Texas borne and bred.
#15, Sounds rosy.
Democrats also believe that private property should only be allowed as reward for social conscience. How does it feel to know that even if you paid your house off, you would still have to rent it from the government for the rest of your life?
Of course, the republicans haven’t made any moves to kill this atrocity so I guess it doesn’t matter which of the two msm-forced candidates wins.
#19, And then the democrats more or less let him get away with it. I guess they’re hoping they get in power so _they_ can have it. How much you want to bet that Obama signs an executive order repealing FISA and/or its “enhancements” should he get elected?
BTW . . . back on subject — This article should have had a fishy rating. I still can’t find anything in the law that states this.
#21, Tom,
Democrats also believe that private property should only be allowed as reward for social conscience.
And Republicans eat dead babies and suck weenies in airport washrooms. So what is your point?
#22,
Let me restate that. It should be
“All right wing nuts eat dead babies and suck weenies in airport washrooms while wearing lapel flag pins.”
I once met a Republican who claimed not to eat meat.
#22/23, So, what’s your point? If you think I’m republican, you are sadly mistaken.
Quoting my friend KD from the Cage Match,
Easy way around this dumb law.
* Enter customers home as a “friend.”
* Say, I’d like to buy that computer.
* Pull out pre-printed legal contract
* Agree to purchase computer for $100.00
* Repair computer
* Pull out 2nd pre-printed legal contract
* I’ll sell you that “now working computer” for $100.00 plus your repair charge
* Get check and head for nearest bank
Har! My lawyer friend says this is totally legal, and the State Of TX can kiss your entire toolkit.
Mr. Musturd!
Dumbya is NOT Texas born and bred, he was born in New Haven, Connecticut, and later moved to Texas. And his wonderful father H.W. Bush claimed to be a Texas resident, but just had a fucking mailbox in front of an empty lot.
You hacks are letting me down. Let me help.
“Based on the intelligence of our current President, I was surprised to hear they actually have computers in Texas.”
Has anyone seen the text of this law? I couldn’t find it.
Raff,
Anymore info on that Oregon stuff??
Raff,
this is abit illegal..
1. the STATE cant use a 3rd party to do their job.
1.5 “same as above” especially WITHOUT ARRESTING YOU first or showing you a suspena..and SHOWING what they are looking for..
Normally I wouldn’t defend Texas, because they’ve done me wrong once or twice. But this blog does seem to dig up mostly bad laws of Texas origin. Aren’t there any equally stupid laws in other states? Come on, Texas can’t be the center of everything, good and bad. Mike Wallace retired from doing the news. So why are we still hearing about his home state, all the dang time?