Comments on: Man’s Laptop Confiscated by Police Because He Used Free Wifi Outside Public Library

By: sowhat

sowhat — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 00:30:26 +0000

That’s the problem with our society: too many people trying to get something for free! And not all the details of the arrest or the reasons for it are included in this story, so it’s not really fair to judge the police department. And I’m sure the police officer who was quoted actually said more than what was included in the story. Not all police are morons, morons!

By: BLightnin

BLightnin — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 21:19:38 +0000

Maybe, instead of requesting a driver’s license, a library card would have been a better call. :)

By: bake2999

bake2999 — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 18:17:00 +0000

Next you ‘ll be arrested on a public street if you pass gas………

By: Rocker452

Rocker452 — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 16:41:18 +0000

Just how is accessing a public library’s free wi-fi stealing if its an open access point? In our town the library is part of the city government. I don’t think the police had any right to confiscate the laptop and the man should sue the department. This is just plain wrong.

By: Christopher W.

Christopher W. — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 16:32:54 +0000

Why was the library’s wi-fi on after hours?

Does the library have a policy against using their connection after hours? or outside the building?

And the libertarian in me has to ask: How does a memeber of the public tresspass on publicly owned property? And (as Phibber noted above),lacking any complaint from the library, under what legal theory was the laptop confiscated?

This sounds like sactimony under color of law than a crime.

Finally…I also remember that Linus Torvalds was too warm and lazy to shag his ass to the library (!), and created Linux so he could stay warm.

By: Phibber McGee

Phibber McGee — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 16:09:52 +0000

I find the lack of any complaint on the part of the library regarding Tanner’s usage of their WiFi connection to speak volumes.

Generally, (at least where I live) the public libraries are private institutions and not part of the municipality. This means that the police w/o cause entered private property and w/o a complaint from the property owner arrested Tanner for violating a law that to my knowledge is inferred at best and an extreme gray area to say the least!

I hope he sues the pants off The Palmer Alaska Police department and the town. Considering the level of verbal eloquence possessed by Lt. Tom Remaley I doubt he’ll have any problem proving wrongful arrest.

Maybe then with the proceeds from the lawsuit he can afford his own High Speed access

By: seasaw

seasaw — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 17:38:41 +0000

Now, let me get this straight, for instance, if a court order was received by the police department to free someone in custody, they have the right NOT to? Just what part of the word free do the officers have trouble understanding??? Sheesh!!!