Another Incident Of Dumb Cops Arresting A Guy For Using An Open Wi-Fi Connection

Information Week ^ | Jun 1, 2007 | Mitch Wagner

[FreePoster]

This is pretty much the behavior of a stalker or someone who is up to no good.

This is pretty much the behavior of many people on their lunch break.

If someone doesn't want to share their wi-fi they should put a password on it. Otherwise they are, in fact, sharing it. The law doesn't properly match the way this works.

[Edgar3]

Amnesty for all of the unprotected network users!

[Jambe]

So if your outside standing under a street lamp reading the newspaper, can they charge your with theft of electricity?

[Paladin2]

I leave my wifi open to be nice to others as I tend to use open connections when on the road too. I notice contractor pickups parked on the street checking their e-mail, so I believe that it is being used. (The wifi sits below much of the rest of the home network and doesn't seem to be much of a risk - the unit is pw protected so others can't easily reconfigure).

The cops sure love to look through the excessive # of laws we have if they want to screw u. Seen it happen.

[Bob]

I wouldn’t use someone’s phone without asking, why would I use their internet connection without asking?

He did ask. More accurately, his computer did when it requested access. Since the access was granted, he was using it with the permission of the network and, by extension, its owner.

[Jeff Chandler]

Never tell the cops anything when they stop you without probable cause.

True indeed, but even showing a hint of belligerence is foolishly playing with fire.

First say "What can I do for you, officer?" or "Is something wrong?"

This guy should not have been using the connection in the first place, but definitely should have closed his browser and opened a game program when he saw a cop coming.

[Minutemen]

if the wi-fi is owned by the coffee shop, they would have had to have pressed charges. right?

Not necessarily, if its a violation of state or federal law.

[savedbygrace]

Have you ever sat outside a club or store and listened to the music they’re playing inside?

“Officer, that man is sitting outside and he’s LISTENING to our music, but he’s not BUYING anything. Arrest him.”

[Rb ver. 2.0]

“In other news, several kids were taken to juvenile for water theft after running through a neighbor’s sprinker.”

Yes, and we’re all going to be arrested for enjoying the smells outside of bakeries and restaurants as well. Hopefully a sane judge will award the damaged parties a monetary penalty of the sound of loose change jingling.

[feedback doctor]

Far more likely is Peterson was actually stalking but they didn't have enough proof to charge him with the actual deed.

Ah, I see you are a law enforcement officer.
That's a philosophy that would lock everyone up until they can prove there's no reason to.

[Rb ver. 2.0]

“Far more likely is Peterson was actually stalking but they didn’t have enough proof to charge him with the actual deed.”

If I were a cop you shouldn’t have any reason to deny my a request to search your car or house.

[Larry Lucido]

Do all you sniffing outside Jimmy John's, just to play it safe. :-)

[E. Pluribus Unum]

True indeed, but even showing a hint of belligerence is foolishly playing with fire.

I didn't say be belligerent. I just said don't tell them anything. You can do that very politely. "I'm just sitting here in my car deciding if I want a latte' or a capuccino, officer."

[Jeff Chandler]

I didn't say be belligerent. I just said don't tell them anything. You can do that very politely.

Yes, but I would NEVER ask a cop if I were under arrest or if I were being detained illegally. Diplomacy works best with cops because you never know when you are dealing with someone drunk on power. You always want to act as if you are on their side and respect their authority, even if the cop you are dealing with is a stupid jerk.

[HereInTheHeartland]

“”We came back and we looked up the laws and we figured if we found one and thought, ‘Well, let’s run it by the prosecutor’s office and see what they want to do,’” Milanowski said.”

The solution to stupidity like this, is to reduce the offending law enforcement entities budget by 25% immediately.

As Reagan did, defund the b@#tards.

[drlevy88]

The list, for what it’s worth, sounds like an ACLU recommendation. They like to see officers baited into confrontations, because they take the philosophy that revenge is best served cold.

[Leatherneck_MT]

Best advice I’ve ever heard.

[Publius6961]

Dumb Cop?
Craziness?
Being hit on the head with a billy club one too many times?

The only doofus I see in this story is the author.

The old "if you don't actually lose anything in the process, I can steal anything I want any time" criminal posture still doesn't do it for me.
The Bevis and Butthead mentality.

Is this Einstein writer aware that "freeloading" wireless criminals have stolen hundreds of thousands of accounts and identities?

Last I checked, it's illegal to rob banks even if the front doors are unlocked. Ditto for burglarizing homes or automobiles.

Blaming the victims is a non-starter.

The freeloading criminals stealing music for years are seriously attempting to make this type of crime "normal" and not a big deal.

[jettester]

I’m wondering if this “open” wi-fi was of the type that when you connect to the signal, you get a “terms” page that you have to click accept on before proceeding. 5 out of the 6 places I’ve recently been to that advertises it has wi-fi has had these “terms” pages to go through first. Prominently listed on those pages was the boilerplate language that states that the wi-fi is for the intended use of customers and by clicking on the “accept” button, you agree to the terms.

[drlevy88]

Is this Einstein writer aware that "freeloading" wireless criminals have stolen hundreds of thousands of accounts and identities?

An identity thief can in fact set up to mimic a Wi-Fi server and do man-in-the-middle attacks like this. But this wasn't happening here, or it would have been found by investigators upon getting the guy's laptop. Not to say it shouldn't be deemed a crime, but something like this is much more like petty shoplifting than it is like murder.