Repair A Computer In Texas Without A License And Face A Year In Jail

from the ridiculous-laws dept

Here's a bizarre one sent in by Syborg1404. It turns out that it's against the law in Texas to repair a computer without a private investigator's license. Specifically, the law requires anyone who is repairing a customer's computer by analyzing data on the computer to have a private eye's license -- which only takes three years as an apprentice or to earn a criminal justice degree. This isn't just an out-of-date law still on the books either. It was passed last year, though it's now being contested as unconstitutional. While it does not appear that anyone's been charged under the law, computer repair technicians used to cleaning spyware and viruses off of computers in Texas are reasonably worried.

To be honest, this whole thing sounds like garden variety protectionism, similar to state laws that required people selling goods on eBay to spend a year or more to get an auctioneer's license. These laws aren't about protecting consumers, but about limiting the number of competitors in the market itself. Hopefully Texas gets rid of it before someone is fined and tossed in jail for cleaning spyware out of someone's computer.

Filed Under: computer repair, licenses, private investigators, protectionism, texas