You must be a P.I. in Texas to work on computers....

[Trooper110]

The story:
Texas PC Repair Now Requires PI License - News and Analysis by PC Magazine

And the first law suit:
Institute for Justice: First Amendment Cases: Texas Computer Repair

How on earth did they ever think that this was a good idea???

[WalkinTarget]

<Higgins> MAGGGNUUUUMMMM !!!!! </Higgins>

Well, at least they can carry handguns in TX ... geez, what an idiotic law. Taking the PC to an unlicensed repair person also subjects the consumer to the same fines, $4000 and one year in jail.

[xGoblin013x]

in what way is a private investigator more qualified to fix a computer than a guy at best buy?

[Mobojo]

Well I know in NY there is a law proposed that anyone that repairs a computer is responsible to report any child pornography they find out the computer. That in itself is good, except that if someone repairs it then someone else finds child porn on it a little later, the repair guy gets in huge trouble. If the law gets passed an IT professional will have to work on a computer, then do a full drive scan looking for anything.

Another problem is finding the stuff since most people dont label their child porn as "naked 12 y/o 1". A lot of those that have child porn also hide it in the slack space on a drive which is would mean even more space to look through.

They basically want to turn IT professionals into P.I.s in NY.

[[TT]BrundleFly]

So does this mean you can't swap a hard drive in your own rig if it dies?

[Rovey Wade]

I'm embarrased.