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Michigan man fined for using free Wi-Fi

He had been checking e-mail using local cafe's wireless system
By John Cox , Network World , 05/23/2007

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.

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They interviewed this guy onBy Anonymous on October 5, 2007, 1:58 pmThey interviewed this guy on Jon Stewart. The lady that owned the cafe told them that she did not press charges and as far as she was concerned it only brought her...

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Totally Agree!By Heather Jackson on October 2, 2007, 9:52 amI TOTALLY agree...just like advertising (cheap advertising at that!)...actually, if I saw a cafe with a gaggle of cars parked outside, I would be curious enough...

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You have all the factsBy Seen It on August 29, 2007, 9:53 pmYou have all the facts correct. You can add one more fact, he has worked 2 blocks down on the same street as the café, that had the sign offering free Wi-Fi, for...

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How about your Barney?By Walter Freeman on June 19, 2007, 5:52 pmAccording to the latest update in BackSpin by Mark Gibbs (Networkworld.com) the facts have become a bit clearer. 1) Mr. Peterson was sitting in his car near the...

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If three people call you an ass...By Wizard Prang on June 12, 2007, 12:40 pm...put on a bridle. Doc, the vast majority of people on this thread disagree with you. That doesn't mean that "they don't get it", it means that we feel that...

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