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A Michigan man has been fined $400 and must work 40 hours of community service for using a local café’s Wi-Fi connection from his parked car to check his e-mail and surf the Web.
He got off easy, according to the local TV station that reported the case: under Michigan computer access law, using a Wi-Fi connection without authorization is a felony, punishable by as much a $10,000 fine and five years in prison.
But the story raises more questions than it answers, including whether the café’s Wi-Fi connection was a fee-based service, which would imply authorization was required, or a free service that, without any security restrictions, could be accessed by anyone within range, including someone outside the restaurant. The story also doesn’t say whether the defendant, Sam Peterson II, of Sparta, Mich., was convicted of the crime or pled to the charge.
Peterson routinely drove to Sparta’s Re-Union Street Caf, to check his e-mail but never went into the coffee shop. His regular routine drew the attention of Sparta Police Chief Andrew Milanowski, who asked Peterson what he was doing. Peterson told him. After checking the Michigan statutes, the chief swore out a complaint of fraudulent computer access.
Comments (56)
Re: Michigan man fined for using free Wi-FiBy Anonymous on May 24, 2007, 10:14 amWhat is this? Don't ask, don't tell? Re: Michigan man fined for using free Wi-Fi.
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Michigan manBy Bob Wells on May 24, 2007, 10:54 amMaybe he should have parked in a different spot each time - the cop probably wouldn't have paid any attention. "Criminals" usually don't get caught the first time,...
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He should appeal. This lawBy Anonymous on May 24, 2007, 2:53 pmHe should appeal. This law should be tested and thrown out. The coffeeshop should be looked at for having a network open to the world without sufficient security. Did...
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Fine This!By Anonymous on May 24, 2007, 3:57 pmWould this man have been arrested if he went in the coffee shop to use their bathroom, then didn't make a purchase? Should the cop be punished for bothering the...
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Is This RealBy Anonymous on May 24, 2007, 10:13 pmSeems to be a lot of info missing from this account. Just how did he access the WiFi if it was secured for store customer use only? Is there a sign posted in the...
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What is the world coming to?By Anonymous on May 25, 2007, 2:19 amWhat's happing in our world of technalcial advances? Is the world so petty now that a person is to be fined for checking his e-mail. Get real people and fine someone...
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