Texas Computer techs required to get PI License or go to jail

O

orbital 123

Veteran XX
I wouldn't bring your PC into get repaired if you live in Texas. You have no private lives anymore. Everything is open to the government, because you have nothing to hide, right?

http://cw33.trb.com/news/kdaf-062608-computerspelpina,0,486476.story

New Computer Repair Law Could Affect Both Company Owners and Consumers

* Lawsuit says every repair technician in Texas must have private investigator's license
* Licenses are obtained with criminal justice degree or 3 year apprenticeship
* Violators can face up to a 4K fine and 1 year in jail



June 26, 2008

(Updated July 2, 2008)

A new Texas law requires every computer repair technician to obtain a private investigator's license, according to a lawsuit filed in Austin. Violators can face a $4,000 fine and one year in jail, as well as a $10,000 civil penalty.

Unlicensed computer shops will have to close down until they obtain a private investigator's license.

A private investigator's license can be obtained by acquiring a criminal justice degree or by getting a three-year apprenticeship under a licensed private investigator.

According to the Institute for Justice, an Austin-based non-profit law firm, the new law also impacts consumers. Consumers who knowingly take computers to an unlicensed company for repair can face the same penalties.

An article from the Daily Texan explains the concern from one computer shop owner's perspective.

In the Austin American-Statesman, State Rep. Joe Driver, (R-Garland) explains the intent of the law, and claims it does not place such restrictions on most computer shops.
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simple solution... remove your hard drive before hand... then give it to the techs...

if they tell you the issue is that your hard drive is borked flip them the bird and walk out.
 
They should only be required for a PI license if they are doing computer forensics for lawsuits/criminal court cases. . This is the most stupid thing I have ever heard...
 
orbital 123 said:
The links are right in the article, if you bothered to go to the site.

http://media.www.dailytexanonline.c...nicians.May.Be.Acting.Illegally-3386027.shtml

http://www.ij.org/first_amendment/tx_computer_repair/6_26_08pr.html

http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/80R/billtext/html/HB02833F.htm
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Alarmist bullshit. Read the actual text of the bill.

Even IF this were true which it is NOT. IT techs at companies are covered because the employee signed an internet use and communications policy.

Techs working for a parent are covered because they are legal guardians of their children.



And even if ALL THAT didn't cover it. All the store would have to do is get the customer to sign a form saying they were the owner of said computer.

But again, all this is academic, because it requires a VERY liberal reading of the text of this bill. So liberal that no court in Texas would rule thus.
 
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"In the Austin American-Statesman, State Rep. Joe Driver, (R-Garland) explains the intent of the law, and claims it does not place such restrictions on most computer shops."
Click to expand...

Basically means the shops/techs that need it are the ones that are doing investigation/forensics...
 
starwolf_nexus said:
simple solution... remove your hard drive before hand... then give it to the techs...

if they tell you the issue is that your hard drive is borked flip them the bird and walk out.
Click to expand...

Because no one ever has a bad harddrive or software problems.
 
Congrats Texas, you'll be stuck going out-of-state to get your computers repaired while every dork in the state goes through at least a year and a half of straight college courses which have nothing to do with repairing your stuff, in order to fix your computer.
 
DealyRrunk said:
Congrats Texas, you'll be stuck going out-of-state to get your computers repaired while every dork in the state goes through at least a year and a half of straight college courses which have nothing to do with repairing your stuff, in order to fix your computer.
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Normally I'd say going out of a state like Texas for tech service would be wise, but considering every state that borders it you're probably better off going to Mexico.
 
Did you guys read the article at all? It only has to do with the technicians searching through the computer to find out where users have been at the request of the owner. IE parents spying on children or said parent spying on spouse.

Still a dumb law.
 
This is nanny state crap trying to fix a problem where if child porn is found on someones PC during a hard drive recovery they can be prosecuted because the discovery was done by a PI. Something close to that.
 
ZOD said:
This is nanny state crap trying to fix a problem where if child porn is found on someones PC during a hard drive recovery they can be prosecuted because the discovery was done by a PI. Something close to that.
Click to expand...

Every other state does it without PIs
 
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