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Date:         Tue, 17 Jun 2008 05:19:45 EDT
Reply-To:     RAlanen@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Frank Condelli <RAlanen@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: for those who use wireless on the road ... opps who knew
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

In a message dated 16/06/2008 4:42:09 P.M. Central Standard Time, LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:

State laws regarding access to networks Many states have criminal laws that prohibit accessing any computer or network without the owner's permission. For example, in Texas, the statute is Penal Code section 33.02, Breach of Computer Security. It says, "A perso= n commits an offense if the person knowingly accesses a computer, computer network or computer system without the effective consent of the owner." The penalty grade ranges from misdemeanor to first degree felony (which is the same grade as murder), depending on whether the person obtains benefit, harms or defrauds someone, or alters, damages, or deletes files. The wording of most such laws encompasses connecting to a wireless network without explicit permission, even if the wi-fi network is unsecured. The inclusion of the culpable mental state of "knowing" as an element of the offense means that if your computer automatically connects to your neighbor's wireless network instead of your own and you aren't aware of it, you haven't committed a crime -- but if you decide to hop onto the nearest unencrypted wi-fi network to surf the Internet, knowing full well that it doesn't belong to you and no one has given you permission, you could be prosecuted under these laws. A Michigan man was arrested ( http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070522-michigan-man-arrested-for-usi= ng-cafes-free-wifi-from-his-car.html) for using a caf=E9's wi-fi network (which was reserved for customers) from = his car in 2007. Similar arrests have been made in Florida, Illinois, Washington, and Alaska. See

WELL, that's pretty screwed up BECAUSE Texas offers free WiFi Internet service in it's own Rest Stops with Tourist info centres ! You do not have to go in and get permission. We used them coming back from Mexico this past Spring. So they are on both sides of the fence ??????? More screwed up laws by screwed up bureaucrats !!

Cheers,

Frank Condelli Almonte, Ontario, Canada '87 Westy & Lionel Trains (_Collection for sale_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/trainsal.htm) ) _Frank Condelli & Associates_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html) - Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley _Vanagon Stainless Steel Exhaust Systems_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/exhaust.htm) _BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm) a VW Camper camping event, Almonte, ON, June 12 ~ 15, 2008


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