Texas Computer Technicians Beware!!!!!!!!!

tech-installers · 06-30-2008, 04:57 PM

New Texas Law Limits Computer Repair To Licensed Private Investigators
Rife v. Texas Private Security Board

IJ client Mike Rife cannot compete with a government-created cartel that demands he close his businesses and complete a three-year apprenticeship under a licensed private investigator to get a state-required license to fix computers.

Texas now demands that every computer repair technician in the entire state acquire a private investigator’s license to repair a computer. To get that license, you are required to have a degree in criminal justice or perform a three-year apprenticeship under a licensed private investigator. If you perform certain repairs without a private investigator’s license, or if you have your computer repaired by someone without a license, you can be punished by a $4,000 fine and one year in jail as well as a $10,000 civil penalty.

Matt Miller, the executive director of the Institute for Justice Texas Chapter, which is located in Austin, said, “Texas is working hard to bring technology innovators to the state. Laws like this tell computer entrepreneurs that they are not welcome here, and that they must risk jail time in order to continue working in their chosen field.”

Computers can be unreliable and computer repair is a common, everyday transaction. Yet under the new law, consumers must take their computer to a licensed investigator to have it repaired, or risk one year in jail for using an unlicensed company. The law leaves consumers with fewer choices and higher prices for computer repairs.

http://www.ij.org/first_amendment/tx...air/index.html

**simpswr** · 06-30-2008, 05:36 PM

Strange that this is totally unknown in Texas . .

**Glaswegian** · 07-01-2008, 05:41 AM

I've heard everything now...

tech-installers · 07-01-2008, 05:48 AM

Governments have a way of passing laws quietly and then start hitting the businesses individually enforcing them to follow the law hoping that no one creates a community issue of it.

We need to have all the technicians call the IJ and assist the attorney there in fighting this law.........

ebackhus · 07-01-2008, 06:57 AM

I haven't heard about this, nor have any of my tech buddies.

sinclair_tm · 07-01-2008, 11:34 AM

Quote:

"The good folks over at Baseline Magazine have an intriguing — and worrisome — report on a movement to limit computer forensics work to those who have a Private Investigator license or those who work for licensed PI agencies. According to the story, pending legislation would limit the specialized task of probing deep into computer hard drives, network and server logs for telltale signs of hacking and data theft to the same people who advertise in the Yellow Pages for surveillance on cheating spouses, workers' compensation fraud and missing persons. Those caught practicing computer forensics without a license could face criminal prosecution."

link

I wonder if it is that someone is just misunderstanding the law, as now there are two different claims about it, one of which makes more sence than the other. I even found one site taking about this law in 2007. If this was real, then I'd think it would have made national headlines alot sooner.

deejay100six · 07-01-2008, 11:43 AM

I just hope they don't forget to add a fuel surcharge.

tech-installers · 07-01-2008, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sinclair_tm

link

I wonder if it is that someone is just misunderstanding the law, as now there are two different claims about it, one of which makes more sence than the other. I even found one site taking about this law in 2007. If this was real, then I'd think it would have made national headlines alot sooner.

The Institue for Justice has it pending before the state supreme court because Corparations are excluded from this law. Per Ashley Smith with Institue foir Justice they are only targeting small "mom and pop shops".

I DONT CARE HO0W YOU LOOK AT IT, THIS IS PURE DISCRIMINATION TOWARDS THE SMALL GUYS

I have a pdf file of the law that was passed. If anyone wants it, send me pm with email and ill forward it to you.

**karusho** · 07-02-2008, 01:38 PM

WTF is this?

This is obviously some sort of corruption - all the politicians profit from the guys that can still keep their shops open...

**bruiser** · 07-02-2008, 02:20 PM

Could this be an attempt to curb identity theft and the finding of personal info?

tech-installers · 07-02-2008, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bruiser

Could this be an attempt to curb identity theft and the finding of personal info?

It very well could be, however is it not the responsibility of the system owner to ensure the data is safe and to protect their personal data?

Lets say the recovery of data does require the drive to be sent off. I can understand the protection of sensitive data however, why didn't the law get specific with the types of industries covered. The companies that actually recover data are not even repair technicians in most cases. The law should have specified the type of industry or the actual work implied to data recovery.

The law has a great concept for the sensitive data protection, however someone didn't do their homework with the industries it now involves.

06-30-2008, 04:57 PM	#1 (permalink)
tech-installers Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Location: Oakcliff Posts: 17 OS: Linspire 6.0/winme/win98/linspire 6.0 My System	Texas Computer Technicians Beware!!!!!!!!! New Texas Law Limits Computer Repair To Licensed Private Investigators Rife v. Texas Private Security Board IJ client Mike Rife cannot compete with a government-created cartel that demands he close his businesses and complete a three-year apprenticeship under a licensed private investigator to get a state-required license to fix computers. Texas now demands that every computer repair technician in the entire state acquire a private investigator’s license to repair a computer. To get that license, you are required to have a degree in criminal justice or perform a three-year apprenticeship under a licensed private investigator. If you perform certain repairs without a private investigator’s license, or if you have your computer repaired by someone without a license, you can be punished by a $4,000 fine and one year in jail as well as a $10,000 civil penalty. Matt Miller, the executive director of the Institute for Justice Texas Chapter, which is located in Austin, said, “Texas is working hard to bring technology innovators to the state. Laws like this tell computer entrepreneurs that they are not welcome here, and that they must risk jail time in order to continue working in their chosen field.” Computers can be unreliable and computer repair is a common, everyday transaction. Yet under the new law, consumers must take their computer to a licensed investigator to have it repaired, or risk one year in jail for using an unlicensed company. The law leaves consumers with fewer choices and higher prices for computer repairs. http://www.ij.org/first_amendment/tx...air/index.html __________________ Tech-installers Removed spam from signature. Please read the forum rules **Spam=Spam is unsolicited e-mail on the Internet.

06-30-2008, 05:36 PM	#2 (permalink)
simpswr Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: May 2007 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 4,468 OS: XP, Vista	Re: Texas Computer Technicians Beware!!!!!!!!! Strange that this is totally unknown in Texas . . __________________ Rich MemTest86 \| BenchTest \| Spyware Cleaning \| How to Post a Screen shot \| PC running slow]

07-01-2008, 05:41 AM	#3 (permalink)
Glaswegian Moderator/ Rangemaster TSF Academy; Analyst, Security Team; Oor Wullie; TSF Surgeon and Resident Comic Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Glasgow Posts: 21,371 OS: Win XP Pro SP3 My System Blog Entries: 10	Re: Texas Computer Technicians Beware!!!!!!!!! I've heard everything now... __________________ Iain - Defender of the Haggis and all things Scottish. I don't help by PM - post in the Forums. Ad-Aware::SpywareBlaster::SpyBot::SpywareGuard::SnoopFree::AVG Free::HOSTS File::HijackThis::Donate::5 Steps For Infected PCs

07-01-2008, 05:48 AM	#4 (permalink)
tech-installers Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Location: Oakcliff Posts: 17 OS: Linspire 6.0/winme/win98/linspire 6.0 My System	Re: Texas Computer Technicians Beware!!!!!!!!! Governments have a way of passing laws quietly and then start hitting the businesses individually enforcing them to follow the law hoping that no one creates a community issue of it. We need to have all the technicians call the IJ and assist the attorney there in fighting this law......... __________________ Tech-installers Removed spam from signature. Please read the forum rules **Spam=Spam is unsolicited e-mail on the Internet.

07-01-2008, 06:57 AM	#5 (permalink)
ebackhus Asst. Manager, Design Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: SATX Posts: 12,731 OS: WinXP Pro SP3 My System Blog Entries: 25	Re: Texas Computer Technicians Beware!!!!!!!!! I haven't heard about this, nor have any of my tech buddies. __________________ ----------------------------- There are no dumb questions, unless a customer is asking them. Help in the fight against cancer and other serious illnesses.

07-01-2008, 11:43 AM	#7 (permalink)
deejay100six Tech, Microsoft Support Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Doncaster, England. Posts: 2,854 OS: win xp pro sp2 My System	Re: Texas Computer Technicians Beware!!!!!!!!! I just hope they don't forget to add a fuel surcharge. __________________ Regards, Dave. If it ain't broke, don't fix it..

07-02-2008, 01:38 PM	#9 (permalink)
karusho TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Silicon Valley Posts: 1,213 OS: Windows XP SP2, Windows Vista SP1, Ubuntu 8.04 My System	Re: Texas Computer Technicians Beware!!!!!!!!! WTF is this? This is obviously some sort of corruption - all the politicians profit from the guys that can still keep their shops open... __________________ Laptop Specs: Sony VAIO VGN-NR160E dual-booting Vista Ultimate SP1 and Ubuntu 8.04 "Hardy Heron"

07-02-2008, 02:20 PM	#10 (permalink)
bruiser TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,648 OS: xp	Re: Texas Computer Technicians Beware!!!!!!!!! Could this be an attempt to curb identity theft and the finding of personal info?